The Hainan Campaign
Publicity Bureau, Navy Department
A COMMUNIQUE containing the following information was issued by the Army and Navy Departments of the Imperial Headquarters at 9 : 55 o'clock on the morning of February 10th.
"Crack units of the Imperial Army and Navy, operating in close cooperation, succeeded in effecting a surprise landing on Hainan Island early this morning. The units are now advancing inland."
The anticipated Hainan campaign had begun
The Japanese fleet in South China under command of Vice-Admiral Kondo and a large number of military transports sailed from their base on an undisclosed day in February and secretly entered Tengmai (Tsingmai) Bay in the northern part of Hainan Island at midnight, February 9th. Landing operations were started immediately and the forces succeeded in the disembarkation at 3 o'clock the following morning and started an inland advance, easily breaking through the resistance of Chinese troops caught unaware.
A rather strong breeze prevailed during the morning but the sea was calm. One was reminded of the successful Japanese landing on the shore of Bias Bay inaugurating the Canton campaign last October.
Pursuing a daring policy, the Japanese forces took the pier at Siuying, several kilometres beyond the point of their landing at 10 a.m., and occupied Kiungshan, capital of Hainan Island at 10 : 45. Haikow (Hoihow), the largest town in the island, was taken at noon.
Prior to this, some Japanese naval craft had begun the removal of booms and the sweeping of mines in the Nantu (Namtu) River, on which Haikow is situated. After overcoming these difficulties, the warships succeeded in proceeding along the delta and reached the capital at 2 : 30 p.m., thus establishing a junction between the naval and military forces and securing a line of communication to Haikow from the sea.
Meanwhile, the Japanese naval escorts watched against possible Chinese attacks from the air and sea near the point of the landing and also facilitated landing operations. Certain of the warships joined with naval aeroplanes in bombarding effectively the Chinese
[Map: Hainan Island]
fort at Siuying, west of Haikow, from about 10 : 45 o'clock in the morning.
This fort at Siuying lies some 4 kilometres west of the capital. It was equipped with three 28-centimetre guns and two 15-centimetre guns, but these were immediately silenced when subjected to the combined Japanese attack from air and sea.
Siuying Fort and the headquarters of the Chinese troops stationed nearby were first bombarded by a Japanese warship engaged in suspending traffic against Chinese vessels along the coast of South China, on September 16, 1937. Since then, they had been attacked by ships and planes from time to time. The present campaign marks the conclusion of the necessary steps to destroy the Chinese military base of operations on Hainan Island.
The naval air force easily secured command of the air over Hainan Island, where Chinese planes were inactive. The Japanese aeroplanes did not merely cover the advancing military forces, but participated in the opening of the waterway on the Nantu River and also bombed Chinese forts and other military establishments in the interior of the island, including those at Kiungtung, Tsinglan (Tingan), Wenchang, Sankiangshih and Tashih. The planes were fired on with machine-guns and rifles but sustained no damage.
Enemy positions at Tengmai and Tungshan were also attacked by the Japanese air force. While participating in these attacks, one naval machine made a forced landing on Tungshui Creek on the southern shore of Tengmai (Tsingmai) Bay. Villagers immediately gathered round the disabled plane, but they showed no signs of hostility against its crew. Rather, they manifested sympathy with the crew along with considerable interest in the machine and assisted in the salvage work. Consequently, both plane and men were reached in safety by the Japanese authorities. It is felt that this episode demonstrates the fact that inhabitants of Hainan Island have already lost their hostile feeling against the Japanese, and are now actually manifesting good-will to the Japanese forces on the island.
While the military operations in the northern part of Hainan were making steady progress, a Japanese naval detachment succeeded in making a surprise landing at Yulin Harbour near Samah Bay to the south on February 14th. A landing party started an immediate advance from near the bay. The Ohta and Inouye detachments occupied Yulin at noon, February 14th, while the Nakase and Katoh detachments began a drive on an undisclosed place.
The Chinese offered some resistance, which, however, was easily broken by the combined attack from land and air. Sustaining a crushing blow, the Chinese troops fled to the mountains. Many
inhabitants who had evacuated Yulin are now returning to the town. Japanese casualties in these encounters were limited to one killed.
It may be recalled that approximately one year ago, on January 19, 1938, two Japanese bluejackets were killed by Chinese troops which fired on them from three directions. On that occasion, Japanese warships, while cruising off Hainan Island, had learned through aerial reconnaissance that a large number of Chinese junks loaded with war supplies had been staying in Yulin. The warship sent a landing party of 18 in a vedette boat and a cutter to the port and before the Chinese fire could be silenced two of the men, Yoshio Mukai and Fusao Urada, were killed. And now, Yulin is in Japanese hands.
Hainan Island is a little larger than Formosa. The Japanese forces now are conducting operations both from the north and south on the island. It is anticipated that complete occupation of the island will be effected very soon. With the key points in Hainan already occupied by Japanese forces, the blockade against the coast of South China has been materially strengthened and an opportunity has been created to make possible a more vigilant watch over the route of arms supply for the Chiang Kai-shek Régime through Tongking Gulf (Annam Bay). It is conceivable that the Japanese forces with their base of operations firmly set up on Hainan Island will prepare for a drive on Luichow (Leichow) Peninsula and Pakhoi on the Tongking Gulf.
Hainan Island is reported to have special connections with France. However, the treaties between Japan and foreign countries or between China and foreign Powers contain no provision which would restrain Japan's action on Hainan. When it is remembered that Japan's occupation of the island will hasten the termination of the China Affair, it is felt that third Powers should recognize that in this way their interests will be furthered as lasting peace in East Asia will soon ensue.
Other Naval Activities in China
Since late in December, the Japanese Naval Air Force in China has been particularly active in South China, where it has been attacking Chinese bases for the purpose of destroying Chinese military establishments and dealing a crushing blow to the remnants of the Chinese air force.
In North China, Japanese landing parties in face of the approaching severe cold started clean-up campaigns against the remnants of Chinese troops which infested the neighbourhood of the Japanese occupied areas.
Toward the end of December, a Japanese landing party started a drive
from near Lienyunchiang, the eastern terminus of the Lung-Hai Railway and routed several hundred Chinese regulars from Sucheng and Sunchiashan. In cooperation with a Chinese militia force, about 150 strong, the landing party also eliminated Chinese regulars and guerillas from Pehyuntai, Sunchiashan and Sucheng.
Early in January, when the winter was at its height, the party undertook a successful campaign against the remnants of Chinese troops west of Pehyuntai. Covered by mechanized units and aeroplanes, the party successfully attacked Chinese troop concentrations and military barracks. The area southwest of Chefoo was also cleared of Chinese regulars and guerillas by this party in cooperation with 180 Chinese militiamen. In those engagements, the enemy left over 300 dead, but the Japanese casualties numbered only 3.
Operations along the Yangtze
The Japanese naval force on the Yangtze River is now engaged in suppressing the remaining Chinese troops and guerillas on either bank of the river, while removing booms and sunken vessels and sweeping mines.
In December, the Japanese mine-sweepers made satisfactory operations in Twanfeng, Changchiachow, Paotachow, Tsaichiang and Tungliu.
Further progress was recorded early in January when a large number of mines were discovered and disposed of, while various important passages of the Yangtze River were cleared of mines, including Fulingchow, Lukichow, Chenglingchi, Luchiachiao, Yanglingchi, Hsienfengyen, Twanfeng, Pailochi, Paichow, Matangchia, Wusueh, Szetzeshan, Chipanchow, Huhwangchow, Yuchi, Linhsiangchi, Loshan, Tayeh, Sishan, Hwangchow and Echeng. During the operations, one Japanese warship captured two Chinese naval guns and a large quantity of ammunition at Mopanshih, while a Japanese gunboat flotilla dispersed a strong body of Chinese guerillas at Chiliuchen.
In the middle of January the mine-sweeping operations were extended to points above Echeng and also to the passages from Tayongchow to Tatung and from Anking to Matangchen. A Japanese gunboat flotilla dispersed Chinese guerillas, while reconnoitring near Tangkow. Part of this flotilla sailed up the creek from Tangkow and attacked a base of the Chinese guerillas at Chenhangchen where it seized a large number of motorcars and other war supplies.
The South China Campaign
Late in December, a Japanese destroyer flotilla and the naval force on the Pearl River swept several hundred Chinese junks engaged in arms transit and other clandestine activities from the neighbourhood of Waichow Island about 30 miles due south of Pakhoi and also from between the Pearl River and Lingting Island. The Japanese garrison at Samshui, the junction of the North and West Rivers in Kwangtung Province, dislodged a company of Chinese regulars from a hill opposite Makow.
In January, a Japanese landing party effected a surprise landing on the
southern part of Waichow Island and cleared the whole island of Chinese troops. The Japanese naval force on the Pearl River in concert with the military force routed the Chinese garrison at the entrance of the Shawan passage and entered the passage. Pushing north from Chentsun, the Japanese naval force cleaned up remnants of Chinese troops and guerillas up to Tashihpochi, at the same time seizing several hundred junks.
The Japanese mine-sweepers on the Pearl River, assisted by naval aeroplanes, swept mines not only on the main stream of the Pearl River, but other waterways connected with the Pearl River, including the creek west of Eliot Island, the entrance of the Nimrot Creek, the creek between Haichinsha and Taisha and the passages of Hsiaohusha and Erhu.