JAPANESE TAKE HAINAN ISLAND

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14065, 11 February 1939, Page 6

JAPANESE TAKE HAINAN ISLAND

CONSIDERED AS A MILITARY NECESSITY . United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. TOK.IO. February 10. It is officially announced’ that Japanese forces have landed at Hainan Island, south-west Iron-. Hongkong. Tile nave in the ncThe landing troops immediately began advancing to the interior The official announcement of the landing describes it as a military necessity aimed at the extermination of Chinese forces on the island. It is claimed the operations do not oonllict with the Franco-Jr.panese agreement. TAKEN WITHOUT CASUALTIES. (Received 11.4 ami TOKIO. February 10. A communique- states that the Chinese fort at Sin.ving fired' on a Japanese vessel covering the landing at Haitian, The fort was silenced after naval and aerial bombardment. The Japanese occupied the capital Kingshan also- Hoi chow without casualty. The Spokesman denied tlie occupation implies Japanese territorial ambitions but was only undertaken to suppi ess bases north of Hainan whence pirates secured munitions for China which is now the chief route of supply for the army. ing bases and the Chinese an* retreating FRANCE WATCHES THE SITUATION. (Received 11.16 a.m.) PARTS. February 10. I lie Government is watching the situation at Hainan where France lias at Sphere of influence but it is believed the danger of incident is not likely as there- is no French police forces in Hainan.