JAPAN’S NEXT MOVE

Evening Star, Issue 22956, 13 May 1938, Page 9

JAPAN’S NEXT MOVE

ATTACK UN SOUTH CHINA EXPECTED ALL DEFENCE PREPARATIONS COMPLETE Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 12. The Tokio correspondent of the ‘Daily Telegraph’ says: “Three possible motives are suggestedl for the attack on Amoy—strategic, economic, and psychological. If strategic, it is believed to foreshadow operations in the Canton area. If economic, it is the prosperous Customs revenue that attracts, and the occupation of Swatow and Foochow may be expected to follow shortly. If psychological, it is to cheer up and encourage the Japanese public in view of failure to record a spectacular victory on the Suchow front. Possibly all three motives played a part in the navy’s action.”

The Hongkong correspondent of the 1 Daily Telegraph ’ says all South China is now awaiting tensely for Japan’s next move. The main concern in Hongkong is the security of Canton, although all preparations to meet a Japanese attack have long been completed there. WHOLE OF AMOY OCCUPIED CHINESE RETREAT TO MAINLAND. SHANGHAI, May 12. It has been reliably reported that the Japanese have captured the whole of the island, including the treaty port, where fighting raged throughout the day. The Chinese forces have retreated to the mainland. All foreigners are reported) safe. RAID OH FRENCH MISSION EIGHT PEOPLE KILLED. LONDON, May 11. The * News Chronicle ’ says that the Japanese, in the course of a fourth raid on the Changlo Mission, Shantung, murdered a French missionary (Frederick Fourre), three Chinese nuns, two novices, a Chinese Christian, and a servant.