Japanese Island Grabbing

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 80, 5 April 1939, Page 5

Japanese Island Grabbing

Singapore-Hong Kong Shipping Route Menaced REPORTED INTENTION United Pres* Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Wednesday, 12.30 a.m. HONG KONG, April 4. It is reported without confirmation that, following the seizure of Spratley Island, the Japanese intend seizing other islands between Borneo and Indo-China, some of which are regarded as potential bases which menace the SingaporeHong Kong shipping route and also constitute a potential threat to the Philippines.

France was evidently perturbed by the announcement over the week-end of the annexing of Spratley or Storm Island, in the China Sea. The island is apparently of little importance in the ordinary way, for, while included on large scale maps as one of the scattered groups, many little more than reels, lying Boufh-west of the Philippine Islands, no mention can be found of it in the usual works of reference. There is much significance, however, in the cabled comment that it has considerable strategic value. Spratley Island lies practically at the centre of a sea area, with French Indo-China, Singapore, the Philippines and British North Borneo roughly equidistant from it. If it has potentialities as a naval or a seaplane base, the possibilities opened up are serious. Actually, Britain has as much reason to be concerned as France, for if the island flanks the coast of IndoChina, it also lies uncomfortably close to the sea route from Singapore to Hong Kong. Moreover, though Japan declares that it has long been regarded as ownerless, it ia certainly marked as British on the map. However, the French have been informed of the Japanese action presumably because of the dispute some months ago over the Paracel Islands. This group lies about 100 miles south-east of Hainan Island. It is claimed by China, and also by France, as being part of Annam. At the beginning of July France sent a party of gendarmes to occupy the group, on which meteorological stations and lighthouses had beeu established. Japan immediately protested, claiming to have commercial interests there. France refused to be moved by the protests, and tho discussions came to nothing. The proposed occupation of Spratley or Storm Island can be taken as Japan's counter-move to the earlier French stroke, but it is one which Britain c*' not accept without anxiety. KONGMOON RETAKEN LARGE ENEMY FORCE ANNIHILATED MACAO, April 3. The Chinese recaptured the treaty port of Kongmoon (South of Canton), which safeguards the supply line to Macao, and annihilated a large Japanese force. They also captured Pakhoi and are at present massing half a million men for the defence of Changsha. A hundred thousand men are preparing for an assault on Chekiang, to which the Japanese have withdrawn. The Japanese are reported to have reoccupied Takan Island. A Tientsin message states that the chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce, Mr. H. F. Dyett, who was kidnapped from his home in the German Concession on March 19, wns rescued from the bandits by a party of English and Japanese troops.

A Japanese air raid on Sian destroyed the British mission hall and damaged the business quarter.