YANGTZE-KIANG STILL CLOSED

Southland Times, Issue 23816, 13 May 1939, Page 7

YANGTZE-KIANG STILL CLOSED

JAPANESE PROMISE REOPENING i ANOTHER LANDING MADE NEAR HONG KONG (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received May 12, 6.30 p.m.) TOKYO, May 11. The Navy spokesman announced that the Yangtze-kiang would be reopened to navigation at the earliest possible moment, but said that at present it was congested with ships supplying the needs of 1,000,000 Japanese soldiers engaged in the Hankow region. The International Settlement and French Concession authorities in Shanghai have issued a proclamation forbidding political activities and providing the most vigorous penalties for such activities..

A field despatch reports that nine Chinese divisions, totalling 150,000 men, were routed north-west of Hankow, many members of the staff surrendering after the encirclement of General Tang Po’s headquarters. Elsewhere the Japanese are carrying on an offensive 44 miles north-west of Singyang. A second force is pushing westward from Singyang, and a third northward along the Han river, while a fourth,'hitherto held in reserve, is advancing from Anlu in Central Hupeh. The Hong Kong correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says for the fourth time in six months the Japanese landed near Hong Kong. They captured Namtow without resistance.