JAPANESE DRIVE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19759, 13 October 1938, Page 5

JAPANESE DRIVE

SOUTH CHINA BID BIAS BAY LANDING DEFENDERS SURPRISED INVADERS MOVE INLAND BRITISH WARNING NOTE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—. United Press Assn.) tßecd. Oct. 13, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 12. The Japanese invasion of South China was officially announced in Tokio this morning. Tokio reports that the Chinese were surprised by the sudden attack and did not offer stiff resistance. A Japanese communique issued in Tokio reports that the landing was completed in two hours with only the slightest losses and the Japanese troops are now driving inland.

A large number of Japanese forces were reported from Hongkong to have landed from 30 transports at Hachung, Bias Bay. A joint Japanese army and navy communique issued- at Hongkong confirms that the landing was effected '•somewhere" in South China early today.

The Japanese Counsul at Hongkong said that foreign interests in South China would be protected. The object of the invasion was to force a speedy downfall of Marshal., Chiang KaiShek.

Extra British Troops

Two companies of the Middlesex Regiment have been . ordered from Hongkong to the border to assist the police in keeping, order, owing to possible influx of Chinese refugees. The East Surrey Regiment has been ordered from Singapore to reinforce the Hongkong garrison.

Hongkong reports state that heavy fighting is proceeding in the northern environs of -Bias-Bay. ■ -

Router's correspondent at Hongkong says the Japanese - landing force is estimated to number 30,000. A special correspondent of the HongKong China Mail, who flew over Bias Bay at dawn said the surface of the oeach was black -with moving figures. He saw 120 vessels, including capital ships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, transports and barges disgorging soldiers and equipment. On 30 Miles from Border The invaders were harely 30 miles from the Hongkong borders. The Associated Press says that disturbed toy the magnitude of the new Japanese offensive in South China, Britain, has sent a further note to Tokio through the Ambassadj.. It s understood that Japan is reminded that Anglo-Japanese relations would be jeopardised in the event of a threat to British interests in Hongkong and elsewhere in South China. Acting on the advice of the British Consul, 30 women and children left Canton for Hongkong.