MENACE OF HAINAN

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14067, 14 February 1939, Page 5

MENACE OF HAINAN

CONCERN IN HONG KONG DANGER TO SINCAPORE. United Pres 1 * Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. HONG KONG, Feb. 13. It is reported that the Japanese have conscripted civilians on Hainan Island and are building aerodromes and dredging the harbour of Hoihow to take bigger warships. They nave forbidden anyone to quit the island. Patrols are machine-gunning refugees attempting to reach the mainland. The gravest concern is felt at Hong Kong where it is pointed out that a Japanese air base on Hainan would menace Hong Kong, Manila and Singapore, while a submarine base would threaten all trade routes east of Singapore.

Marshal Chiang Kai-shek declares if the Japanese are permitted to hold the island and establish a naval and air base it will be the turning point in the international situation in the Pacific.

A Paris message says the newspaper Le Temps declares if the occupation is intended to be permanent France and Britain might finu it necessary to revise their attitude towards the Sinojapanese conflict and the general situation in the Far East. According to a Tokio message the Foreign Office has issued a statement announcing that Mr Arita assured the French Ambassador that Japan had no territorial designs on Hainan and would occupy the island only so long as it was militarily necessary.

A Tekio message says the Chinese casualties since the Japanese landing on Hainan are 250 killed and 60 taken prisoner. The Japanese lost three killed and two. wounded. A brigade of irregulars defended the island. The remainder of the division with 10,000 rifles went to the mainland after the fall of Canton.