FAR EAST MYSTERY

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1938, Page 7

FAR EAST MYSTERY

FLEET OF WARSHIPS OFFICIAL’S EVIDENCE [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] NEW YORK, April 15. The collector of customs at Davao, in the Philippines, in a radio message declared that the authorities there state that the 21 mysterious vessels anchored in Davao harbour are warships. “It has been established beyond doubt that warships entered Davao waters,” he states. A message from the Mayor, Mr. C. D. Macgee, a retired United States Army officer, states: “I saw about 17 warships in column formation. I could identify the wireless, but I could not identify the flags or numerals of any of the ships. The mother ship moved up from the rear to the front of the column. She had a low flat deck with a slightly elevated poop as the only superstructure, suggesting that she might have been an aeroplane carrier, although my assistant suggested that she could have been a collier.” . Other eye-witnesses said that they saw the ships manoeuvring on Sunday night, displaying vari-coloured lights. Army authorities are awaiting the return of two aeroplanes which were sent out. to investigate. PHILIPPINE FORTIFICATIONS NEW YORK, April 16.

Army and navy officials have completed their conversations with the Filipino leaders concerning a plan for the defence of the Philippines, says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” The plan involves a 15-year programme of strengthening the fortifications, in addition' to training mobile forces of native troops. U.S.A. PROGRAMME WASHINGTON, April 15. The Naval Committee of the Senate favourably reported the Naval Expansion Bill, after authorising an increase in battleship tonnage iproviding for three 45,000-ton vessels. It increased the number of auxiliaries from 22 to 2G vessels. -* The committee struck out 3.000,000 dollars for the construction of a dirigible. JAPANESE DIFFICULTIES LONDON, April 16. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian” states that the situation of the Japanese in China is considered to be serious, but uot desperate. The Chinese are believed to be employing the right military tactics. Their viewpoint is that the resistance is not weakening and that peace is still remote. Most of the Avar material reaching China through Hong Kong is of German and Italian origin. Some has been received from Russia, but it is mostly inferior. Germany is uneasy about the Japanese difficulties, because a prolonged war may diminish Japan’s value as a member of the anti-Communist Pact. CHINESE ADVANCE SHANGHAI, April 17. The Chinese declare that they have entered the suburbs of Yihsien. They assert that the Japanese lack supplies, and that aeroplanes are dropping foodstuffs. The Chinese in Shantung maintain that they outmanoeuvred the Japanese. Guerrilla activity is widespread. Large Japanese forces have landed at Tsingtao. east of Ichowfu.

WELLINGTON, April 17

The Chinese Consul has been informed from Hankow that the Japanese have been heavily reinforced at Linyi. The Chinese brought down eight Japanese aeroplanes, which formed part of a squadron of 61 raiding Canton. Five thousand Japanese have been killed in Shansi in the last four weeks. JAP. AIR-RAIDS. (Received April 18, 11.30 a.m.) HONG KONG, April 17. Taking advantage of the full moon, the Japanese delivered five air raids on Hankow. The damage is not known. The anti-aircraft batteries were silent but pursuit planes challenged the attackers. The Japanes also carried out an air raid on Northern Canton, killing fifty militia, and wounding a hundred c i v i 1 i a ns. ______