CHUNGKING, February 12.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 36, 13 February 1939, Page 9

CHUNGKING, February 12.

General Chiang Kai-shek describes the Japanese landing on Hainan as the beginning of their dominance in the Pacific.

"I do not know," he added, "howBritain and America can watch unconcernedly this dangerous development, because the Japanese from Hainan can cut American trade routes from Hawaii and British routes from Singapore. "The landing will have little effect on the present war. An occupation of the island is of no consequence to China."

A cablegram received from Tokio on Saturday stated that Japanese spokesmen had denied that the occupation of Hainan Island implied that the Japanese had territorial ambitions. He said that it was undertaken only to suppress bases in North Hainan from which pirates had been supplying munitions to China and which now formed the chief route of supply for the army.

A Paris message stated:—The Government is watching the situation at Hainan Island, where France has a sphere of influence, but it is believed that the danger of an incident is unlikely as there are no. French police forces on the island. ;