Treaties, Laws and Speeches

THE CHINA AFFAIR IN REVIEW

I. ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY

Press Section, War Department

The China Affair is now one year old. Provocation by Chinese troops caused the Lukouchiao incident which broke out in the suburbs of Peking on July 7, 1937. The endeavours of the Japanese Government to settle the matter locally and the goodwill and sincerity manifested by the Japanese military authorities to this end were spurned by the Chinese side. On July 28th, the Japanese troops stationed in North China were compelled to launch a punitive expedition against the Chinese 29th Army in and around Peking and Tientsin.

The Chahar Campaign

Following the successful completion of this punitive expedition, the Japanese forces started a drive on Chahar Province. They occupied Nankow and the Nankow Pass, which forms one of the three famous barriers in China. The Japanese drive was conducted along the Peking-Suiyüan Railway. Investing all key positions along the way, the Japanese took Tatung, a strategic town in northern Shansi Province as well as Paotow, western terminus of the Peking-Suiyüan Railway. Thus the Japanese dominated the Ordos desert across the upper reaches of the Yellow River.

The successful campaign in Chahar Province not only removed the menace in the rear of the Peking and Tientsin area but crushed the Chinese attempts to invade Manchoukuo. It served to cut off the so-called Red Route by which the Comintern, with Outer Mongolia as its base of operations, had been endeavouring to bolshevise North China. An important feature of the campaign was the cooperation of the Inner Mongolian troops with the Japanese forces. The Federated Autonomous Committee of Mongolia which was organized at Kalgan some time ago marks the regeneration of the Mongols who have long suffered from the oppression of the Chinese Nationalist Government and also the emancipation of the Asiatic races which have now risen together under the anti-Comintern banner.

The Drives along the Peking-Hankow and Tientsin-Pukow Railways

The campaign along the Peking-Hankow Railway started with a battle in the Chochow plain which resulted in such a crushing defeat for the Chinese

troops that they were unable to rally and reorganize themselves. On September 15th, the Japanese crossed the Yungting River in face of the enemy and surrounded the Chinese troops in the Chochow plain, dealing them an overwhelming blow. From Chochow to Paotingfu, the Japanese drove on, crossing rivers and traversing fields. Some idea of the fierce running fight which the Japanese gave the Chinese may be formed from the episode in which a Japanese soldier found his comrade dead in the morning after sleeping side by side during the night.

The Japanese gave siege to Paotingfu on September 24th, only a week after the Chochow battle. After taking Paotingfu easily, the Japanese advanced on Shihkiachwang, where, falling back on strong defence works, the enemy had planned to offer its last resistance in Hopei Province. Shihkiachwang fell on October 10th, the Chinese double tenth festival, despite a fervent appeal made that day by General Chiang Kai-shek to the Chinese forces to hold that important town.

Meanwhile, one Japanese detachment navigated the Tzeya River which flows between the Peking-Hankow and the Tientsin Pukow Railways, successfully overcoming many difficulties and covering 280 kilometres to cut off the Chinese retreat. Thanks to the clever coordinated movement between the main body of the Japanese force which swiftly drove south along the Peking-Hankow Railway and a detachment which made a detour to outflank the enemy, the Japanese troops crossed the border between Hopei and Honan Provinces and occupied Changteh, an important town on the Peking-Hankow Railway in Honan Province.

The Japanese force which drove south along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway encountered floods almost everywhere. The detachment which attacked Machang was in water for 18 hours. This detachment reduced Machang by marching through water breast-deep.

Tsangchow was taken on September 24th, the same day that Paotingfu fell. After occupying Tehchow and Yucheng, the Japanese reached the northern bank of the Yellow River on October 15th.

On December 23rd, the anniversary of the birthday of H.I.H. the Crown Prince, the Japanese crossed the Yellow River in face of the enemy and took Tsinan, capital of Shantung Province. They saw the sunrise on New Year's Day at the base of Mount Taishan, from which they made a further southern drive to dominate Central Shantung.

The Shansi Campaign

General Yen Hsi-shan, War Lord of Shansi Province, had assiduously strengthened the defence works of his province under the slogan, "Shansi for the Shansiites," but his kingdom crumbled on November 9th when the Japanese captured Taiyüan, capital of the province. Prior to the capture of Taiyüan, the Japanese took Nankow Pass, Yenmen Pass, and Niangtze Pass which were proverbially known in China as impregnable. It took the Japanese three weeks to reduce Sinkowchen, the bulwark of Taiyüan, which fell on November 3rd.

Pacification of the Area North of the Yellow River

On February 11th, Empire Day, the Japanese forces in Shansi Province and along the Peking-Hankow Railway resumed their operations which resulted in pressing back the Chinese troops to the south and west of the Yellow River. The Lung-Hai Railway, the west-to-east jugular vein of Chinese communications, was thus directly menaced, while not only the capitals of the five provinces in North China but almost all other important towns were taken by the Japanese. The Chinese people in North China were thus freed from the oppressive rule of the Chiang Kai-shek Régime.

Meanwhile, the Provisional Government of the Republic of China was established at Peking with Mr. Wang Ko-min, veteran Chinese statesman, chosen as chairman of the Executive Committee by the leading citizens, whose aspirations were to build up new North China for the North Chinese, to free themselves and all Chinese from the Red menace and to reconstruct China under an anti-Comintern, pro-Japanese banner.

The successful organization of a new Government in North China means implicit confidence placed by the people of North China in the strength of the Japanese army as the result of the latter's splendid achievements. With the expansion of the Japanese military operations, more provinces will come under the jurisdiction of the Provisional Government, which is a token, so to speak, of the reconstruction and regeneration of China.

In this connection, it should be noted that the unrest felt by some sections of the public in Manchoukuo has been definitely dispelled by the Japanese domination of North China.

The Campaign in Central China

When the North China Incident was expanded to Shanghai by further Chinese provocation, it was evidently the plan of the Nationalist Government to drive Japan into difficulty and isolate her internationally, by taking full advantage of the geographical position of Shanghai which favours the defender as well as the complicated international situation of the city. Fierce Japanese onslaughts, however, successfully overcame all strategical disadvantages, frustrating the Chinese designs, although the Japanese went through untold hardships and paid heavy sacrifices in taking every creek and building in the way.

The successful general attack started on Tachangchen on October 23rd sealed the fate of Greater Shanghai; the surprise landing of a large Japanese force on the northern shore of Hangchow Bay ensured the Japanese troops of complete domination of the region east of the great lake, Taihu.

The collapse of the Chinese positions at Fushan, Soochow and Wukiang presaged the imminent danger of Nanking, on which the Japanese forces drove from three routes, along the northern shore of Lake Tai, along the southern shore of the lake and along the Yangtze River. On December 13th, the Japanese forces captured Nanking, capital of the Chinese Nationalist Government. Fighting was immediately extended to the area north of the Yangtze River, where the Japanese occupied the southern section of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway from Pukow, southern terminus of the railway,

to Pengpu.

While military operations were in progress north of the Yangtze River, the New Government of the Republic of China was organized at Nanking on March 28, 1938 with Mr. Liang Hung-chih as chairman of the Executive Yuan. The Shanghai Municipal Government which was known as the Tatao Municipal Government was incorporated in the new administration.

The China Affair apparently entered a second phase with the Japanese domination of North China north of the Yellow River and the occupation of the Yangtze Valley in Central China.

The Battle of Hsuchow

General Chiang Kai-shek concentrated large forces along the Lung-Hai Railway, especially at Hsuchow, the junction of the Tientsin-Pukow and the Lung-Hai Railways, whose defence works were strengthened. The Chinese military authorities declared: "The fate of China as a nation hinges on the battle of Hsuchow." The Hankow Government represented the situation in southern Shantung Province as developing in favour of the Chinese troops and resulting in miserable defeat for the Japanese. Not only the people in China but also some people abroad apparently took the Chinese claim at its face value. The silence kept by the Japanese, however, was entirely due to strategic necessity, because they wanted to lure as many Chinese troops as possible to the Taierhchwang sector.

It is still fresh in the public memory how the Japanese northern and southern forces succeeded in carrying out an unprecedented pincer movement against Hsuchow and how they dealt the Chinese a crushing blow.

The effects of the Hsuchow battle are manifold and far-reaching. First, the mobility of the Japanese northern and southern forces has been increased; second, the fertile provinces of Anhwei and Kiangsu have come under Japanese influence; third, the proposed union of the new Peking and Nanking Governments is likely to be accelerated; fourth, the Chinese mendacious propaganda has been exploded; and fifth, foreign Powers have been given the chance to review their attitude toward the Chinese Nationalist Government.

In order to follow up the victory at Hsuchow, the Japanese forces gave chase to the defeated Chinese troops which fled in various directions.

The Japanese force which drove westward along the Lung-Hai Railway was pressing hard on Chengchow, the junction of the Peking-Hankow and the Lung-Hai Railways, when the Chinese troops destroyed the dikes of the Yellow River in a desperate attempt to check the Japanese advance. As a result, 3,000 square miles were flooded, over 100,000 people including women and children were drowned and about 1,000,000 people were rendered homeless. Such shocking vandalism is but one manifestation of the Chinese "scorched earth" tactics which are consistently pursued by the Chinese military authorities in accordance with Communist advice.

Another Japanese military force, in cooperation with the Navy, went up the Yangtze River and stormed Anking, capital of Anhwei Province, seriously menacing Hankow.

By observing the map of China it will be readily seen that Hankow is

strategically encircled by Japanese forces. Complete domination of North and Central China by the Japanese Army is certain to mark a great change in the situation despite General Chiang Kai-shek's fond hopes for protracted warfare against Japan and despite the vast territory and large population of China.

Losses of the Enemy

The numerical strength of the Chinese armies totalled about 2,000,000 men at the outbreak of the current Affair. When hostilities began, the Nationalist Government mobilized about 700,000 men in North China and about 800,000 men in Central China. Such have been the Chinese losses due to the fierce Japanese attacks that the Chinese casualties up to the battle at Hsuchow totalled 450,000 in North China and 500,000 in Central China.

The Chinese Central Army which formed the main part of the Chinese forces in Central China suffered heavy losses with the result that their fighting power was remarkably reduced. With the reorganization of the army effected through the activities of press gangs, the numerical strength of the Chinese forces is now estimated at about 1,100,000. Side by side with the reorganization of the army, the Chiang Kai-shek Régime started general armament, prompted by the desire to carry on guerilla warfare against the Japanese.

According to careful investigations up to May 20th, the Japanese Military Air Force alone destroyed 200 Chinese planes, including 175 shot down in air combats and 25 destroyed on the ground. In December, 1937, the Chinese air force had only 180 planes left, but their number has recently been increased somewhat. From time to time, Chinese planes appear over the first lines.

Classified by stages, the Chinese suffered about 240,000 casualties in North and Central China up to the end of September, 1937, when the Japanese crossed the Great Wall in northern Shansi Province in North China and when the Japanese vanguard advanced to the line between Lotienchen and Liukiahang in the Shanghai area. Chinese losses totalled some 540,000 men about November 10th, 1937, when the Japanese occupied Taiyüan in North China and when the Japanese enveloped Greater Shanghai. The Chinese casualties reached 750,000 by the end of 1937, when the Japanese occupied Tsinan, capital of Shantung Province and Hangchow, capital of Chekiang Province; 930,000 by March 10, 1938, when the Japanese occupied Kanting on the left bank of the Yellow River; 950,000 prior to the start of the Japanese drive on Shantung; and 1,300,000 by June, 1938, including about 360,000 losses suffered during and after the Hsuchow battle.

Spoils of War

The Japanese capture from the outbreak of the China Affair up to the present includes: 81,627 rifles, 1,530,000 rounds of ammunition, 5,668 light machine-guns, 1,180 heavy machine-guns, 11,950 Chinese swords, 5,644 bayonets, 577 field, cavalry and mountain guns, 73,653 field, cavalry

and mountain-gun shells, 752 trench-mortars, 15,153 hand grenades, 10 15-centimetre guns, 1,000 15-centimetre gun-shells, 4 24-centimetre gun-shells, 600 24-centimetre gun-shells, 57 anti-aircraft guns, 189 tanks, armoured cars, motor-cars and motor-lorries, 1,000 horses, 89 locomotives, 2,155 passenger-cars and freight cars, 20,000 dumdum bullets, 13 tank-guns, 4 24-centimetre howitzers, and 8 armoured trains.

These figures are based on official reports, but it may be easily imagined that there may remain many items of capture on which investigations are not completed and consequently no official reports made.

Occupied Area

The area in China under Japanese occupation extends over nine provinces, including one-fourth each of Chahar and Suiyüan Provinces, one-fourth each of Hopei, Shantung, Shansi and Honan Provinces, one-half each of Kiangsu and Anhwei Provinces and one-ninth of Chekiang Province. The occupied area totals 1,060,000 square kilometres, corresponding to 1.5 times the area of the Japanese Empire whose area is 675,000 square kilometres and to 4.6 times the area of the main island of Japan (Honshu) whose area is 230,000 square kilometres. The number of inhabitants in the occupied area is estimated at 132,000,000.

The guerilla fighters and bandits in the occupied area are reported to number 205,000, including 36,000 Communist bandits, 163,000 anti-Japanese bandits and 6,000 ordinary bandits, but their actual total number is estimated at one-third of the reported figure.

Chinese troops who have surrendered to the Japanese army total about 60,000 men. They are now fighting the bandits, having pledged their allegiance to the new government. The number of Chinese troops surrendering to the Japanese is on the increase.

Rehabilitation in the Occupied Area

Rehabilitation work in the occupied area goes steadily on through cooperation between the Sino-Japanese authorities and the Chinese people. Much anxiety was felt concerning spring sowing in the area stricken by war and floods. The Provisional Government at Peking defrayed 470,000 yen to purchase seeds which were distributed among the peasants for sowing. Thanks to the timely assistance extended to the farmers by the Provisional Government, spring sowing was successfully carried out in the occupied area, even in Shansi Province which suffered most from the hostilities. The Japanese garrison at Sinhsien in northern Shansi Province lent its horses to peasants, who appreciated the help greatly.

At the same time, railway and other communication facilities have been restored, schools opened, new school-books compiled and distributed and broadcasting stations opened. All this has served to add to the success of the rehabilitation work, creating a bright atmosphere everywhere.

Comparisons of War Fronts

The war front, late in June, 1938, extended from Hangchow in the south through Anking and Tsienshan on the Yangtze River and Chengyangkwan, Checheng and Kaifeng on the Lung-Hai Railway to the border of Shansi Province and also to the area northeast of Anpei which lies northwest of Paotow in Suiyüan Province, the western terminus of the Peking-Suiyüan Railway, a distance of about 2,250 kilometres. This is about three times as long as the western front during the European War which was about 790 kilometres long and about ten times as long as the front near Mukden during the Russo-Japanese war, 1904-5, which was only 230 kilometres long.

Conclusion

The Japanese military action in China is directed against the Chiang Kai-shek Régime, not against the Chinese people. Its purpose is the establishment of lasting peace in the Far East and the formation of irrevocable co-operation between China and Japan.

The current Affair, therefore, cannot be settled by mere military force. While there is every indication that the present hostilities are developing into protracted warfare, Japan must throw the full weight of her entire national resources into the conflict now going on to crush the Chiang Kai-shek Régime. While vigorous military action is being pushed, Japan must put forth coordinated efforts to bring pressure on this régime along all other fronts, diplomatic, economic and ideological.

The anti-Comintern axis is now strongly established with further strengthening of the Tripartite Anti-Comintern Pact between Germany, Italy and Japan. It may be observed that Japan's military successes in China are inducing some other countries to rally under the anti-Comintern banner.

Japan's military action is not intended to destroy, but on the contrary is designed to build a new material and moral culture by rectifying past blunders.

THE CHINA AFFAIR IN REVIEW

II. ACTIVITIES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

During the past twelve months, the three arms of the Imperial forces, land, sea and air, have achieved an uninterrupted series of successes. They are now redoubling their efforts to attain the final goal of the present struggle.

If the Japanese operations leading to the capture of Nanking are regarded as forming the first phase of the China Affair and the operations resulting in the occupation of Hsuchow as forming the second phase, the Affair is then entering upon its third phase with the fall of Hankow, nerve centre of the anti-Japanese movement in China, as its objective.

At this time it is significant and important to review the activities of the Imperial Navy during the past twelve months and to survey the future outlook.

The activities of the Imperial naval forces have been manifold and complicated, but their major activities may be outlined as follows:

1. Securing command of the seas; 2. Activities of the Marines; 3. Activities of the Naval Air Force; 4. Suspension of traffic off the China coast to Chinese vessels; 5. Opening of a waterway in the Yangtze River; 6. Occupation of several strategically important places; 7. Coordinated operations with the Army.

Full mention has already been made of these activities, but they may be recapitulated on the occasion of the first anniversary of the outbreak of the China Affair.

Securing Command of the Seas

By the securing of command of the seas is meant utilization of the necessary seas for the existence and security of a state without foreign interference. This is the raison d'être and the mission of the Imperial Navy. This is the reason why the Imperial Navy must have an efficient fleet to crush the fleet of any aggressor Power in the Western Pacific.

Since the very beginning of the current hostilities, the Japanese Navy has secured the command of seas along the coast of China. The inferior Chinese fleet was bottled up in the Yangtze River or in Canton harbour where it was bombed, bombarded and destroyed.

The Whampoo and the estuary of the Yangtze River have been dominated by the Imperial Navy during the past year greatly facilitating the activities of the Japanese marines and troops. This action is but one of many substantial

contributions made by the Japanese command of the seas to the splendid successes achieved by Japan's fighting services.

Were Japan's command of the Western Pacific to be shaken with the result that the Japanese line of communication in China waters became menaced, could the transport of Japanese troops be so successfully carried on and could the coordinated operations between the Japanese Navy and Army be so smoothly conducted? The answer to the query may be found in the abandonment of the Gallipoli operations on the part of the Allies during the European War as a sequel to the successful torpedoeing by the German U-boat No. 21 of the British battleships Triumph and Majestic and the French cruiser Amiral Charney, while they were escorting transports which contained Allied troops, and also in the sad losses sustained by Japan during the war with Russia (1904-5) in the transports Hitachi Maru and Sado Maru which were sunk by the Russian fleet.

Again both the Japanese naval and military air forces might find it difficult to achieve their brilliant successes without Japan's command of the seas. Suspension of traffic along China's coast, about 2,850 miles long, too has been carried out effectively.

Activities of the Marine Force

The Japanese Marine Force was remarkably active during the Sino-Japanese War (1894-5), the Russo-Japanese War (1904-5), the Tsingtao campaign in the European War (1914) and also during the first Shanghai incident (1932), but its activities in the current Affair are perhaps unrivalled in bravery in the history of marine forces.

When the Shanghai incident is mentioned, Japanese invariably recall the marine force, whose bravery and achievements at that time will occupy an importan place [sic] in the history of the Japanese Navy.

The activities, however, of the marine force were not limited to the Shanghai area, but extended to other parts of China. Marines occupied Tsingtao, Chefoo, Weihaiwei, Amoy, and Lienyunchiang, the port-town connected with Haichow, the eastern terminus of the Lung-Hai Railway. They also occupied Pratas Island, Chinmen Island and other strategically important islands off China. With the successful removing of booms and sweeping of mine-fields in the Yangtze, the marine force participated in the operations at various points on the river. It also made a substantial contribution to the capture of Nanking. Subsequently it made a surprise attack on Anking, the capital of Anhwei Province, and reduced it.

During the early part of the Shanghai incident, the Japanese special landing party, confronting enemy forces over a dozen times its numerical strength, successfully defended its long line and repulsed the attackers. The success of the Japanese Marine Force at Shanghai was miraculous, if not providential. The Japanese special landing party at Shanghai had gone through hard training and had been inspired with grim determination to protect Japanese residents before the onslaughts of the Chinese troops with their superior numbers. This special landing party formed the nucleus of the Japanese Marine Force in Shanghai which was later reinforced with marines from home and from various warships. The marine force not only

withstood the Chinese attacks for over 70 days, but finally succeeded in driving the enemy away from the Greater Shanghai area.

Activities of the Naval Air Force

On August 13th, 1937, when hostilities started between the Japanese and Chinese forces at Shanghai, the Japanese Naval Air Force made a transoceanic flight and raided Nanking and other important points. Since then the Naval air force has been increasingly active in combating and destroying enemy aeroplanes, destroying the Chinese Navy, bombing military establishments throughout China, disrupting the enemy lines of communication and also in cooperating with the Japanese ground forces.

In definite figures, the Naval Air Force raided Nanking over 50 times and dropped over 160 tons of explosives; the aggregate number of planes which participated in the raids amounted to 1,200.

Up to the end of 1937, the total number of naval planes which cooperated with the Japanese ground forces in Central China with Nanking excluded were about 6,000 and the explosives dropped totalled over 900 tons. The aggregate number of naval planes which participated in raids all over China were over 13,000, including about 500 which raided Canton, about 900 which attacked the Canton-Hankow and the Canton-Kowloon railways and about 660 which were active along the Lung-Hai and the Tientsin-Pukow Railways. The Chinese planes shot down in aerial combats exceeded 500.

During 1938, the Japanese Naval Air Force has increased its activities and has successfully secured the command of the air throughout China.

During the month of May alone, the Naval Air Force made about 1,800 raids at various points in North and Central China and dropped over 900 tons of explosives.

Up to May 31st, the Naval Air Force had suffered the loss of 84 planes. The following damage had been dealt to the Chinese air force.

Suspension of Traffic to Chinese Vessels

The suspension of traffic proclaimed by the Japanese Navy on August 25th, 1937 to the Chinese vessels off the China coast extending from Shanhaikwan at the border between North China and Manchoukuo down to the border between South China and French Indo-China, a distance of about 2,850 miles, is still enforced.

Difficulty accompanies the efforts of the Japanese Navy to patrol such a large area with the limited number of craft available. None the less, the Navy is effectively enforcing suspension of traffic to the Chinese vessels, fighting against the elements, the snow and wind in northern waters and

the sweltering heat in southern waters.

Vessels under the flags of third Powers often break through the Japanese suspension of traffic, which is a peace-time blockade, and supply arms and ammunition to the Chiang Kai-shek Régime, assisting in the latter's anti-Japanese operations and at the same time reaping enormous profits.

It must not be thought, however, that the Navy overlooks such sinister activities of the vessels of third Powers. Its vigilant patrol force obtains a definite idea of imports into China, on the basis of which the air force starts its activities and attacks the communication lines on land, thus effectively making up for the defects of the peace-time blockade. The remarkable activity of the Japanese Naval Air Force in South China is necessitated by the above-mentioned circumstance.

The peace-time blockade has already been enforced ten months with its effects keenly felt by the Chiang Kai-shek Régime. Hundreds of Chinese vessels have been halted and visited; China's foreign trade has decreased remarkably; the supply not only of war materials but also of daily necessaries including clothes and provisions has been interrupted with the result that prices of commodities have suddenly risen, adding to the difficulty of living.

The finances of the Nationalist Government have become strained with such important sources of income as the customs revenue and salt tax cut off. Its specie holding abroad is reported to have been irreparably drained.

Opening a Waterway in the Yangtze River

The Japanese Navy in the Yangtze River has been active since the middle of November, 1937. It destroyed the Chinese forts and positions on the estuary of the Yangtze, including Kiangyin Fort; it sunk a large number of Chinese warships and armed junks; it swept mine-fields; it removed booms; it covered the military forces in landing at various points on the estuary. At 3:40 p.m., December 13th, a naval force reached Nanking and occupied Siakwan and Pukow, thus cutting off the retreat of the enemy. In cooperation with the Army attack on Nanking, this naval force routed over 10,000 Chinese soldiers near the city.

Following the capture of Nanking, the Japanese naval force immediately started its drive upstream. It reached Wuhu by destroying all the Chinese positions in the way. On January 10th, the naval force advanced as far upstream as Tikang, about 40 kilometres above Wuhu and removed the strong boom near Liutouchen. On January 16th, it approached Tatung, where the enemy had set up a base for mine-laying operations. Defying attacks by the Chinese bombers which flew from Hankow or Nanchang, the naval force bombarded Chinese positions on either bank of the Yangtze, demoralizing the enemy and steadily advancing upstream.

On June 12th, this force in cooperation with the naval planes and military units swooped down on Anking, the capital of Anhwei Province, and effected a landing in face of the enemy. After hard fighting, the Japanese marine force occupied the town.

The naval force on June 14th again occupied a strategically important

town at a point about 20 kilometres upstream from Anking, facilitating the Japanese drive on Hankow.

Occupation of Important Points

Taking full advantage of its mobility, the Imperial Navy, in cooperation with the Army or single-handed, has occupied a number of strategically important points on the Chinese coast and along the Yangtze Valley as well as many islands. The major points occupied include:

(a) Pratas Island, which was occupied by a marine force on September 3rd, 1937.

(b) Chinmen Island, which was occupied by a marine force on October 26th, 1937.

(c) Tsiaoshan, which was occupied by a marine force on December 11th, 1937.

(d) Tsingtao, which was taken by a marine force on January 10th, 1938.

(e) Chefoo, which was occupied by a marine force on February 3rd in cooperation with the Army.

(f) Weihaiwei, which was taken by a marine force on March 7th, 1938.

(g) Amoy Island, which was completely occupied by a marine force on May 13th, 1938. This force landed on the eastern coast of the island in face of the enemy on May 10th.

(h) Lienyunchiang, port-town connected with Haichow, the eastern terminus of the Lung-Hai Railway, which was completely occupied by the Marines on May 23rd. The marine force, covered by a naval force and naval air-units effected a landing on Tunglien Island and Lienyunchiang on May 20th.

(i) Anking, the capital of Anhwei Province, which was occupied by a marine force on June 12th, 1938, in cooperation with the military force.

(j) Namoa Island off Swatow, which was occupied by a marine force on June 23rd, 1938. The Marines landed on the island on June 21st.

Cooperation with the Army

Since the very beginning of the China Affair, close cooperation and co-ordination have been maintained between the Imperial Navy and Army with the result that every operation has been marked with unity between the two fighting services.

Cooperation between the Navy and Army has appeared in the naval escort of military transports, covering of troops in landing in face of the enemy and participation of the Naval Air Force, the naval force in the Yangtze River and marine forces in the attacks conducted by the troops on enemy positions.

The Navy has successfully covered the landing of troops at various points in face of the enemy. The most significant of these was the Japanese landing on the northern shore of Hangchow Bay which sealed the fate of Greater

Shanghai. The landing was effected at dawn, November 5th, 1937 in spite of a strong current and a dense fog which prevailed.

No less remarkable has been the activity of the Naval Air Force which has made substantial contributions to the favourable development of the war situation as a whole, particularly to the splendid successes achieved by the Japanese Army in the hinterland.

It should be added, that the Yangtze River, several hundred miles long, has greatly facilitated cooperation and coordination between the operations of the Imperial Navy and Army. Thanks to the great river, naval and marine forces are able to cooperate with the military forces in their operations in the hinterland of China. Utilization of the river, however, has been due entirely to the command of the seas secured by the Imperial Navy in the Western Pacific.