FAR EAST WAR

Evening Star, Issue 23189, 11 February 1939, Page 21

FAR EAST WAR

JAPANESE LAND ON HAINAN ISLAND IMMEDIATE ADVANCE TO INTERIOR Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright TOKIO, February 10. (Received February 11, at 8 a.m.) It baa been officially announced that Japanese forces landed on Hainan Island, south-west from Hongkong. The navy co-operated in the landing. The troops immediately began to advance to the interior. An official au- . nouncement of the landing describes it as a military necessity aimed at the extermination of Chinese forces on the island. NO TERRITORIAL AMBITIONS CUTTING OFF ARMS SUPPLY FOR V CHINA. TOKIO, February 10. (Received February 11, at 11 a.m.) A communique states that a Chinese fort at Siuying fired on the Japanese vessels covering the landing at Hainan The fort was silenced after a naval and aerial bombardment. The Japanese occupied the' capital, Kiungshan, also Hoichow, without a casualty. The Spokesman denied that the occupation implied Japanese territorial ambitions, but said it was only undertaken to suppress bases in North Hainan, whence pirates were sending ■munitions to China, and which was now the chief route of supply for the army. The Japanese were at present occupying the bases and the Chinese were retiring. FRANCE WATCHING SITUATION DANGEROUS INCIDENT UNLIKELY. PARIS, February 10. (Received February 11, at 11 a.m.) The Government is watching the situation at Hainan, where France has a sphere of influence, but it is believed that the danger of an incident is not likely, as there are no French police forces in Hainan.