CHINA COAST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23384, 28 June 1939, Page 13

CHINA COAST

■JAPANESE FORCES TWO MORE PORTS -FOREIGN SHIPPING WARNING TO QUIT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received Juno 27, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, Juno -27 Japanese forces landed this morning at Foochow, a treaty port 3-1 miles from the mouth of the Min River, and about half-way between Hongkong and Shanghai. The Japanese naval authorities at Shanghai announced that operations •would also commence to-day against "Wenchow, another treaty port L3O miles north of Foochow. ' They warned foreign shipping to quit both ports. The British Consul-General at Shanghai rejected a Japanese Note

demanding the withdrawal of foreign shipping and nationals from Wenchow and Foochow by noon on Thursday, local time. The Note says the harbours ■will be blocked by means of bombs and both will bo zones of hostilities. "Hie loss of these ports will place almost the entire Chinese coast in the hands of the Japanese, seriously affeci> ing Chinese exports. H.M.S. Duchess ;is standing by in the vicinity of Foochow. J SWATOW SITUATION SHIPPING RESTRICTED ONLY ONE VESSEL A WEEK BRITISH NAVAL WARNING (Received June 27, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 20 The Japanese have informed the Brit/ish authorities at Swatow that thoy will allow only one ship weekly to enter that port. In reply tha British nava.l authorities have repeated the Consul s warning insisting -npon unrestricted entry. Two British ships which re-entered Siratow were forced to sail away without discharging their cargo or disembarking their passengers. The captains were informed that only mails arid provisions for foreign residents could be landed. The Foreign Under-Secretary, Mr. R. A, Butler, informed the House cf Commons that the Japanese completed the occupation jof Swatow on lhurstaj, says a British official wireless message. As far as could bo a., British subjects were safe. The situation regarding British shipping was still obscure, ..but the British naval authorities were doing their utmost, m spite of locai difficulties, to secure the unrestricted movements of British ships. It was still too early to form ail opinion about the possible impact or these operations on British trade wi li Hongkong, but the position was being closely watched. . Tho flotilla leader Duncan has left Weiheiwei for Chefoo, states a ong kong message. . Mr. Matsumoto, secretary to the Japanese Consul, has been detained at Hongkong. It is alleged that he was photographing a prohibited aiea in o British colony. RENEWED FIGHTING MONGOLIAN BORDER CONFLICTING CLAIMS MADE (Received Juno 27, 5,5 p.m.) MOSCOW. Jnno 2« The Tass News Agency states that *ll tho frontier posts which were 110 "cones of the recent fighting between Mongols and Mancliukuoan forces have W reoccupied by Russian and Mongol droops, says tho Independent Cable Service. The Japanese to-day alleged that new Aerodromes and barracks near Lake Buirtior, Manchukuo, were heavily attacked by Russian bombers in tho past few weeks. Another air clash on the ManchukuoOuter Mongolian frontier occurred in tho Lake Buirnor area to-day, which both sides claim to have won, says the United Press Association. A Moscow communique says 50 Russian aeroplanes * e Pulsed {3O invading Japanese fighters, destroying 25 of them and chasing the lest across the border. The Soviet lost on b' three machines. On the other hand a Tokio communi5 Ue , says three. Japanese aeroplanes J? l, ght and repulsed (30 invading ltus--2? n , mat-bines and - brought down six •* them.