Treaties, Laws and Speeches

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I

—ACTIVITIES OF THE JAPANESE MILITARY FORCES—

BUREAU OF INFORMATION, WAR DEPARTMENT

Occupation of Swatow and Chaochow

The Swatow campaign was launched in the small hours of June 21st by Japanese military and naval forces operating in close cooperation.

The main body of the military forces, which had landed near Sintsin, eight kilometres east of Swatow, stormed the Chinese guard station, and the single company of troops which had been guarding the station retreated in disorder. Another military detachment which landed on the southern shore of Tahao Island, south of Swatow, immediately started a northern push and took Kioshih on the opposite end of the island. The march from Sintsin to Swatow, although only eight kilometres, proved a very difficult one for the Japanese, for they not only had to fight the enemy all the way but also had to contend with bad roads and a blazing sun. By 3 o'clock in the afternoon, however, the Japanese forces had occupied practically all important points in the perimeter of Swatow, thus dominating the treaty port. Some of the troops immediately started to clean up the Chinese remnants in the town. The Chinese garrison forces in Swatow were about one regiment strong and offered stubborn resistance, taking clever advantage of foreign properties in the town. They retreated under cover of darkness, however, after starting fires in various parts of the city.

Another Japanese detachment, which had sailed up the estuary of the Han River, took Ampow at 9 o'clock on the morning of June 21st and cut off the northern retreat of the enemy from Swatow. Army and Navy air forces participated in the Swatow campaign throughout efficiently covering the advance of the ground forces and facilitating the smooth progress of the campaign.

The Chinese troops which engaged the Japanese at Swatow consisted of one regiment of the Ninth Brigade of the Kwangtung Army and 1,000 militiamen. They left no fewer than 600 dead and yielded 98 prisoners. The Japanese losses were 22 dead and 44 wounded. The Japanese also captured 100 rifles, a trench-mortar and 6,000 rounds of ammunition.

Occupation of Chaochow

Following up their victory at Swatow, the Japanese forces on the night of June 25th launched a drive on Chaochow, northern terminus of the Swatow-Chaochow Railway. Overcoming all resistance along the way, they dislodged a large body of Chinese troops from Fungkai (Fengchi) on

June 26th and reached the outskirts of Chaochow the same night. At dawn, they took the city. Captured two days later was Tenghai, halfway between Swatow and Changli.

Chaochow is noted as the place to which the famed Chinese poet Han Tui-chih was banished during the Han dynasty. It is an industrial and cultural centre in eastern Kwangtung Province with a population of 350,000. Tenghai is situated in the centre of the Han River delta region. It has a population of 10,000, and is the native town of a large number of overseas Chinese merchants, particularly those in the Southern Pacific.

Losses of Soviet and Outer Mongolian Planes

The Soviet and Outer Mongolian air and land forces, which crossed the western border and invaded Manchoukuo territory late in May, lost their international prestige when they were driven back with serious losses by the combined Japanese and Manchoukuo forces. Later, however, they rallied and reorganized themselves for another assault in the vicinity of Nomonhan.

On June 17th and 19th, Soviet and Mongolian planes in groups of more than 10 frequently crossed the border between Manchoukuo and Outer Mongolia to bomb Halunarshan, Chiangchunmiao, Amukulan, Khanjurmiao and other Manchoukuo towns.

The Japanese and Manchoukuo forces exercised self-restraint, however, in sincere effort to induce the Soviet-dominated Outer Mongolians to reconsider their dangerous course.

At 4 p.m., June 22nd, 18 Japanese planes patrolling Manchoukuo territory sighted some 150 Soviet planes of the I-15 and I-16 types, which had crossed the border. In the ensuing aerial battle near Khanjurmiao, the Japanese shot down 56 of the invading planes, with a loss of four craft from their own ranks, including one piloted by Captain Morimoto.

At about 8 p.m., June 23rd, the Japanese air unit which had been patrolling over Lake Buir encountered five Soviet planes and chased them across the border. One enemy plane was brought down, while Sergeant-Major Nakanishi, on the Japanese side, was killed in the air battle.

At 8 : 30 a.m., June 24th, a Japanese air squadron encountered approximately 60 Soviet and Outer Mongolian planes over the Halha River, south of Lake Buir, and shot down 12 of them. All the Japanese planes returned safely to their base.

Another engagement took place at 1 p.m. the same day over Lake Buir in which the Soviets lost four planes, one of which was captured by the Japanese after making a forced landing. One Japanese plane, piloted by Lieutenant Amano, failed to return to the base.

Another air battle occurred south of Khanjurmiao at 6 : 10 p.m., June 26th. Japanese flying units, which had been standing by some 20 kilometres south of Khanjurmiao, went aloft to meet about 40 enemy craft of the I-15 and I-16 types and shot down 16 of them after spirited fighting. The Japanese suffered no losses.

At dawn the following day, Japanese pursuit planes encountered approximately 200 Soviet-Mongol planes over Lake Buir. In the thrilling

30-minute battle that ensued, the Japanese brought down at least 98 planes, and possibly six more.

Following the large-scale air battle, Japanese bombers took off from their base to retaliate for the repeated Soviet-air raids on " open " Manchoukuo towns and also to destroy the base of the Soviet-Mongol air base at Tamsk, 100 kilometres south of Lake Buir. The Japanese raiders bombed and burned 30 enemy planes on the ground. Three Japanese planes failed to return to their base.

From the beginning of the Nomonhan incident up to June 27th, the Japanese air force destroyed 282 Soviet and Outer Mongolian planes and captured two more, adding an impressive page to the annals of world aerial warfare.

The Moscow Government maintained secrecy regarding the border fighting at the beginning, but was compelled to make public its version of the incident through the Tass News Agency on June 26th, following world-wide publicity on the affair. The Soviet version as usual, was concocted to suit its own convenience.

Clean-up Campaigns in Southern Shantung Province

The clean-up campaign started by Japanese forces on May 31st against the Chinese troops under General Yu Hsueh-chung and Admiral Shen Hung-lieh, and also against the Chinese Communist forces in southern Shantung Province, with an aggregate numerical strength of 120,000, has been conducted with extremely satisfactory results.

The Chinese 51st Army, comprising the 113th Division and the 114th division under General Yu Hsueh-chung, the 57th Army comprising the 11th Division and 112th Division under General Miao Cheng-liu, the 40th Army comprising the newly-organized 4th Division and the Shantung militia force under Admiral Shen Hung-lieh and the 89th Army, composed mostly of the salt guards at Haichow under General Li Shou-wei which managed to flee from the Japanese campaign at Haichow, crept into Southern Shantung Province where they joined forces with part of the 8th Route, or Communist Army.

General Yu, as commander-in-chief of the combined Kuomintang and Communist forces, established headquarters at Kaohu, to direct military operations in Shantung and Kiangsu provinces. It is understood that four additional divisions of Chinese troops had hurried north to Shantung from Honan Province as reinforcements.

These combined forces had established bases in the Taishan mountain range and also at Chuhsien, Yishui (Linyi), Mengyin, Chuchang and Jihchao in Southern Shantung Province, where they constructed strong positions. They apparently maintained a line of communication between their bases and Shihsueh, on the southern coast of Shantung.

The Japanese forces converged on these Kuomintang and Communist troops from three routes, namely the Shantung Railway, the Tientsin-Pukow Railway and the Lung-hai Railway. The Japanese Muda, Yamagata, Watanabe and Ishihara detachments pushed south from the Shantung Railway on May 31st; the Kitagawa, Azuma and Yanagawa

detachments pushed north from the Lung-hai Railway on May 29th, and the Yamamoto and Toyama detachments drove east from Taian on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway on May 30th. Marching under a scorching sun with the thermometer registering 110 degrees Fahrenheit, negotiating difficult mountain passes and enduring extreme hardships and privations, especially shortage of water, the Japanese forces steadily tightened their converging movement. On June 7th, they reached the line connecting Chucheng, Takwan, Antungwei and Yichow, 40 kilometres from the enemy positions at Chuhsien and Yishui.

The Japanese air force played an important role in the clean-up campaign in Southern Shantung Province. On June 7th, flying units visited Tunglitien, Kaohu, and Tafow, where the enemy had established bases, and attacked the headquarters and other military establishments.

The Chinese offered stiff resistance in all sectors in an attempt to check the Japanese advance, falling back on their geographical advantage. Undaunted, the Japanese battered the enemy positions and took Mengyin, the Chinese western base, on June 8th. The following day they reduced Yishui, the enemy headquarters. That night, the Japanese Muda mobile detachment stormed Chuhsien. With their headquarters and important bases in Japanese hands, the Kuomintang-Communist forces started a general retreat southwest and southeast of Yishui and Chuhsien.

Following up their victory, the Japanese forces dealt effectively with the Chinese remnants.

Results of the Clean-up Campaign

During the clean-up campaign in southern Shantung Province, which lasted from June 1st to June 26th, the Japanese forces had 109 engagements with enemy forces of an estimated total numerical strength of 52,000. The Chinese left 5,783 dead and lost 302 as prisoners. Their total casualties, including wounded, are estimated at more than 17,000. Japanese booty included 2,037 rifles, 66 machine-guns, 6 rapid-firing guns and 399 horses.

Prior to the June campaign, not a single Japanese soldier had set foot in southern Shantung province, with the exception of that sector which was involved in the battle for Hsuchow last year.

Aside from providing access to the rich agricultural and mineral resources for which southern Shantung is noted, the clean-up campaign is significant in that it has dealt a crushing blow to the combined Kuomintang and Communist forces, which had menaced the peace and order of North China with southern Shantung as their base of operations.

Movement of the Soviet-Mongol Forces Since May

After driving the Soviet and Outer Mogolian troops beyond the border as a sequel to the Nomonhan incident late in May, the Japanese and Manchoukuo forces returned to their base and awaited further developments, which were not long in coming.

For a time, the Soviet-Mongol forces were quiet, but toward the middle of June they resumed their invasion by land and air, in an effort to regain prestige following their earlier humiliation at Nomonhan.

Soviet aeroplanes were shot down every time they ventured across the

border, however, their losses in aircraft totalling 393 up to July 5th. Meanwhile, Soviet-Mongol ground forces on June 11th reappeared on the Halha, border river between Manchoukuo and Outer Mongolia, to survey the topography of the region near the confluence of the Halha and Holsten rivers. On June 18th they constructed a bridge across the Halha near the juncture of the two rivers, crossing over to establish positions on the heights near Manchoukuo territory. At that time, their forces numbered about 1,000 and their armaments included 10 artillery pieces, 10 anti-aircraft guns and scores of tanks.

They were reinforced steadily. On June 24th, a strong body of the transgressing troops, equipped with 70 tanks, armoured cars and lorries, and seven fieldguns crossed the Halha and attacked the Japanese Kobayashi detachment, which was standing guard over Chiangchunmiao. Emboldened by their superior numerical strength, the Soviet-Mongol forces surrounded the Japanese positions and bombarded them heavily with artillery. They met with much stiffer resistance than they expected to find, however, and were compelled to retreat toward evening with heavy losses. In withdrawing they picked up all their dead and wounded. The Japanese succeeded in destroying or disabling 10 tanks and armoured cars and one lorry. Japanese casualties comprised four killed and 15 wounded.

The invaders then strengthened their positions on both banks of the Halha River. Japanese aerial reconnaissance revealed that their first line reached as far into Manchoukuo as Nomonhan. The Soviet-Mongol numerical strength in this sector on June 25th totaled 4,000, and their equipment included 70 cannon, 26 anti-aircraft guns, 140 tanks and armoured cars and 860 motorcars.

The Manchoukuo border patrols at Jaminhotok, near Lake Buir, engaged approximately 300 Soviet-Mongol regulars, equipped with 30 armoured cars, on the evening of June 17th, while Manchoukuo troops at Tsanganobo, on the western shore of Lake Buir, were surrounded by about 1,000 Soviet and Outer Mongol troops, armed with 50 tanks and over a dozen mountain-guns. These invaders were beaten back, after bitter fighting.

On June 19th, 200 Soviet and Outer Mongolian regulars, armed with five tanks and six machine-guns, crossed the border and attacked Khalhamiao on the northern shore of Lake Buir. On June 29th, invading tank units attacked Nomutosolin.

Japanese Punitive Expedition

It is scarcely necessary to mention that the Japanese Army, which is jointly responsible with the Manchoukuo Army for the defence of Manchoukuo, should let these provocations pass unchallenged. Therefore, the Japanese Army decided to strike a decisive blow at the Soviet and Outer Mongolian troops to restore peace and order in Holunbair. After completing necessary preparations, the Japanese-Manchoukuo forces launched a punitive expedition against the Red Army troops which had crossed the border and constructed positions inside Manchoukuo territory.

At midnight, June 31st, the defending forces quietly left their base for an advance on the plain of Holunbair. Late the next night, they had arrived

within striking distance of the first line of the Soviet-Mongol forces.

Giving full play to their mobility, the Japanese on the night of July 2nd surrounded some 4,000 enemy troops on the eastern bank of the Halha and completely cut off their retreat.

The Japanese Yamagata and Yasuoka detachments battered the front of the enemy positions vigorously and succeeded in destroying or disabling more than two-thirds of the enemy's 140 tanks and armoured cars. A Manchoukuo detachment, in cooperation with the Japanese left column, attacked the enemy positions on Noro height and at 8 a.m., July 4th, reached a point four kilometers northeast of the confluence of the Halha and Holsten Rivers.

The Japanese and Manchoukuo first line steadily pressed back the enemy and at dawn on July 8th took the 738 metre hill north of the junction of the two rivers, thus entirely dominating the enemy positions.

The Japanese air force played a large role in the punitive expedition, securing command of the air and cooperating effectively with the ground forces.

In an aerial battle on July 3rd, the Japanese brought down two S.B. type planes, one L.Z. plane and six I-15 and I-16 aircraft.

On the afternoon of July 3rd, about 50 S.B. planes, flying in formation, attacked the Japanese first line repeatedly. The Japanese damage was negligible, however, and Japanese pursuit planes shot down two of the invaders.

July 4th witnessed a major air battle, in which the Japanese air force shot down 45 I-16 and one I-15 craft as well as seven S.B. bombers. It was believed that 15 other bombers were winged, but confirmation was impossible. No Japanese planes were lost in this engagement, although three fliers were wounded.

On July 5th, the Japanese air force bombed enemy artillery positions and tank units. On the same afternoon, 110 Soviet and Outer Mongolian planes, consisting of 60 S.B. bombers and 50 I-15 and I-16 planes appeared over the Halha River. In the ensuing battle, Japanese fliers brought down five of the first category and seven I-16 machines, returning safely to their base after the battle.

The Japanese air force on July 6th encountered a large Soviet-Mongol squadron, consisting of 40 I-16 planes and 12 S.B. bombers east of Lake Buir and shot down 24 of them. One Japanese ace made a forced landing near the scene of battle, while two more failed to return to the base.

Popular Contributions to the War Fund

During the two years of the China Affair, up to June 30th, the Japanese public has contributed 90,000,000 yen to the war fund, as follows :

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

II

—ROLE OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN THE CHINA AFFAIR—

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

On July 7th, the China Affair entered its third year. During the two years of the hostilities, the Japanese forces have scored brilliant military achievements, while reconstruction has progressed apace behind the lines.

We took occasion last year to review the naval operations after the first anniversary of the conflict. Thus, on the occasion of the second anniversary, we herewith outline the naval operations which have taken place since.

Command of the Sea

Command of the Western Pacific, secured early by the Japanese Navy, has provided a solid basis for all military operations since the beginning of the China Affair. It has enabled the Japanese forces to give full play to their efficiency on land, on the sea and in the air, and it also has enabled the Japanese Government to reject resolutely all untoward interference by third Powers, leaving it free to press its legitimate claims. In other words, command of the sea is essential for the conduct of Japan's strategy and diplomacy, upon which the latter are based.

Two years of hostilities have resulted in a virtual debacle for the Kuomintang and Communist armies, leaving them powerless before the Japanese forces, except for the desultory activities of guerillas in a few places. What now is in store for Japan is diplomatic warfare with third Powers over political and economic issues arising from the China Affair. The diplomatic negotiations which already have been started between Japan and pro-Chinese Powers are nothing but minor skirmishes in preparation for the forthcoming full-dress diplomatic struggle. Complications which have arisen recently between Japan and Britain, in connection with the British Concession at Tientsin and other questions, suggest the trend of Japan's international relations, which are bound to be complicated and difficult.

No wonder, therefore, that all Powers interested in the Far East are bent upon expanding their naval armaments with a view to acquiring a greater voice in East Asia.

Such an international situation intensified by the fear of an European War, has added to the importance of the command of the Western Pacific, which is absolutely indispensable to the independence, existence and

development of Japan. The present outlook demands that the Japanese nation pay greater attention to this point.

The Japanese sea forces now are called upon to shoulder a fresh burden in bringing the China conflict to a successful conclusion, by facilitating the smooth execution of Japan's world policy. At no time before has the Imperial Navy faced a greater or more important responsibility.

Blockade Forces at Work

The blockade of the China coast is a manifestation of the Japanese command of the sea in the Western Pacific. It is intended to deprive the enemy of the use of sea routes in accordance with Japan's primary strategy. The success of the blockade has an important bearing on the full scope of Japanese military operations.

The question naturally arises : What difficulty could possibly attend the successful establishment of a blockade against a country which has no navy, or rather whose navy has been crushed ? The difficulty is that which accompanies efforts to blockade a vast expanse of shoreline with a limited number of craft, fighting constantly against the elements. The Japanese blockade against China encounters a greater and more serious difficulty in the obstructions presented by pro-Chiang Powers, which have taken advantage of the fact that it is a so-called " peacetime " blockade.

Nevertheless, the Japanese blockade forces have put forth courageous efforts during the past two years to interrupt the supply of war materials and other essentials destined to the Kuomintang and Communist armies, while the military forces have been attaining brilliant victories on land, in inland waters and in the air.

Now that almost all important seaports have fallen into Japanese hands, the Kuomintang régime is resorting to the desperate expediency of " smuggling," adding to the difficulty and complexity of the duty of the Japanese blockade forces, which have been compelled to seize suspicious junks and to board vessels and examine their freight to stop the practice. Vessels of third Powers also are aiding the Chinese, taking advantage of the loopholes of the " peacetime " blockade, under the protection of foreign naval ensigns. They also use junks to supply Chinese guerillas and bandits with arms and ammunition. With the blockade forces being compelled to examine all vessels, the difficulty of their task may be seen on the basis of the ship clearings in only two North China ports, Chefoo and Weihaiwei, for the last third of May, as shown below :

CHEFOO

WEIHAIWEI

The percentage of shipping of various nationalities entering and clearing North China ports applies in approximately the same proportion to ports in Central and South China. It is worthy of special notice that British shipping has increased steadily since the beginning of the China Affair. Small warships of the British China Station are being detailed to various ports of China to protect British shipping and Chinese junks which are engaged in smuggling, thus creating a delicate international complication and adding greatly to the difficulty of the task of the Japanese blockade forces. Interruption of traffic along the China coast, assiduously enforced by the Japanese Navy, has seriously affected the economy and people's livelihood in that part of China which remains under the jurisdiction of the Kuomintang Government.

Command of Inland Waters

Command of inland waters is an extension of the command of the sea, forming a duty of supreme importance for the Japanese Navy.

Operations in inland waters did not come to an end with the capture of Hankow or Canton. The Japanese forces attained splendid military achievements in the interior of China by gaining control of the Yangtze River as far as Yochow, a 750-mile stretch, and turning it into a line of communication. The Japanese military achievements inland can never be extended, however, unless the Japanese maintain command of the Yangtze. If the situation were otherwise, the Japanese expedition to the interior of China might well share the fate of Napoleon's advance on Moscow.

Operations for securing the command of rivers are carried on by sweeping mines and removing booms, by suppressing remnants of Chinese troops and guerillas along the river, and by eliminating all factors for the disturbance of navigation. This is the reason why free navigation on the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers cannot be restored so easily.

In view of the importance which attaches to the operations in inland waters, they must be continued until the China hostilities are over.

Naval Units on the Yangtze

After the fall of the three Wuhan cities of Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang, the Japanese naval forces on the Yangtze River continued their drive upstream and occupied Yochow (Yoyang) on November 13th last, thus re-opening the 130-mile waterway between Hankow and Yochow.

The naval units since have redoubled their mine-sweeping efforts in the Yangtze, from Hankow to Yochow, as well as from Shanghai to Hankow, to safeguard the Japanese line of communication. With the advent of the low water season unusually early this year, mines laid by the Chinese

troops came to surface one after another of their own accord. Scores of them were discovered and disposed of in a single day. Meanwhile, the Yangtze forces suppressed Chinese bandits who attempted to disturb the Japanese line of communication and rob Chinese junks on the river. When the Chinese armies and guerilla forces launched their so-called April offensive, the Japanese naval units on the Yangtze attacked their bases and successfully frustrated their attempts.

Last March, when the Japanese opened a drive on Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, the Yantze forces broke through the booms constructed by the Chinese at several points at the mouth of the Kan River. In close cooperation with the landing party, air force and military units, they occupied Wucheng at the mouth of the Kan on March 23rd. The river patrol reached Nanchang by way of the Kan River on April 3rd, and Shihchakai, above Nanchang, on April 23rd. Since then the river units have been safeguarding the new Japanese communication line through Lake Poyang and the Kan River.

Japanese Naval Forces on the Pearl River

The Japanese naval forces on the Pearl River have been kept busy removing barricades and sunken vessels from the river and the water channels connected with it, sweeping mines and suppressing remnants of Chinese troops and guerillas along the waterway and in the delta.

An idea of the unit's activities may be understood from a glimpse of its record for the week starting May 22nd, a typical week. During this period, members of the unit boarded 284 junks, of which four were seized, one scuttled and the rest released. The unit confiscated three guns, 11 rifles, one revolver, 435 cartridges, 35 cases of gunpowder, 5,200 cases of petroleum, 20 tons of dust coal, 40 tons of lumber and a large quantity of sugar, vegetables, anchor chains and miscellaneous goods.

It discovered and disposed of 237 mines between January 1st and May 31st, making a total of 654 mines destroyed since the start of the Canton campaign last autumn.

Japanese operations in inland waters are not limited to the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers, but extended to the Kan, the Yen and the Cheyang rivers in North China. Since the latter part of February, the Japanese naval forces have occupied Siangshui, on the right bank of the Kan River, Haichow, the eastern terminus of the Lung-hai Railway, and Fowning, on the Peiyang River in Kiangsu Province.

Activities of the Landing Parties

In North China, the landing parties cleared the neighbourhood of Weihaiwei, Chefoo and Lienyunchiang, port on the Lung-hai Railway, of Chinese troops and guerillas. In Central China, the landing party liquidated Chinese bandits near Kiangyin, on the estuary of the Yangtze, early this year. In March, it participated in the drive on Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province in cooperation with the Army. In South China, the landing party has undertaken a successful clean-up campaign against Chinese remnants.

The Japanese landing party at Hainan also is playing an important role in the subjugation of the island, cooperating with the naval air force and the military forces in a most effective manner.

Activities of the Naval Air Force

The naval air force has not suspended its activities for as much as a day since the outbreak of the China Affair, except on occasions when weather conditions prohibited flying, and it has virtually liquidated the Chinese air force.

The naval air force has devoted its major attention to South China since the latter part of December, although attacking Chinese positions in North and Central China from time to time.

Activities of the naval air force reached their height from the middle of April, when fair weather returned to China.

It raided Chungking, seat of the Kuomintang Government in Szechwan Province and Chengtu, upstream on the Yangtze River in the same Province. A series of raids against Chungking, carried out in quick succession, has brought General Chiang Kai-shek to the realization that any town in China, however isolated, can bring him no safety from the Japanese naval planes.

From the beginning of the China Affair to May 31st, the naval air force alone has destroyed no less than 1,561 planes of the Chinese air force.

The Swatow Campaign

At 11 o'clock on the morning of June 21st, when the eyes of the world had been focussed on the international settlements and foreign concessions at Shanghai, Kulangsu and Tientsin, the Imperial Headquarters announced a surprise landing of Japanese military and naval forces at Swatow, strategically situated seaport in South China on the eastern coast of Kwangtung Province.

Crack detachments, operating in close cooperation, effected a landing near Swatow in face of the enemy at dawn the same day and immediately started an advance inland. Just a year earlier, to the day, a Japanese landing party had occupied Namoa Island, off Swatow.

For the intervening 12 months, therefore the inhabitants of Swatow had expected a Japanese attack almost every day.

The Japanese Fleet in South China Waters, commanded by Vice-Admiral Nobutake Kondo, and a group of military transports carrying soldiers had sailed from an undisclosed base, arriving off Swatow at midnight, June 20th. Landing operations immediately got under way, and the naval forces at 5 : 30 o'clock in the morning had completely occupied all the islands dominating Swatow.

A unit of Japanese warships at 8 : 30 a.m. started to enter Swatow harbour. By sweeping mines and removing booms in face of the enemy forces on both banks, the warships reached a point only two kilometers east of Swatow at 10 : 50 o'clock, silencing the enemy fort at Kilu and other positions on the way. By 2 o'clock, they had succeeded in sweeping mines and removing booms, enabling the transports to enter the port safely.

Meanwhile, the naval air force worked in close cooperation with the land and sea forces, bombing and machine-gunning the Chinese troops to cover the advance of the ground forces. A Chinese steam-launch near Pengchow, on the Han River, fired on a Japanese naval plane, which returned the fire and sank the surface craft.

Prior to this, a Japanese scouting plane, taking advantage of the morning mist, landed in Swatow Harbour and safely returned to the base after making very useful reconnaissance.

Later operations progressed smoothly, the Japanese military forces steadily extending the area under their occupation.

After the fall of Canton last October, Swatow remained the only seaport from which the Chiang Kai-shek régime could contact the outside world. Merchantmen of third Powers friendly to the Nationalist Government recently had frequented Swatow in increasing numbers, including vessels of Jardine Matheson & Co., Ltd., a British concern. War supplies were imported through Swatow and transported overland to Chungking, while staple products from the interior of China were exported abroad through the Kwangtung Port.

Swatow thus was at once a milch cow, so to speak, and a granary for the Chiang Kai-shek régime. The loss of the vital port therefore represents a serious blow to the Chungking Government.

The scorched earth policy was followed during the campaign by the Chinese garrison forces at Swatow, which set fire to several points in the town on the night previous to the Japanese occupation. The fires raged throughout the night, rendering hundreds of Chinese inhabitants homeless and accentuating their hardships. On June 22nd, the landing party cleaned up the Chinese remnants in the busy streets west of the piers of the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company and completely occupied that part of Swatow.

On June 23rd, Vice-Admiral Kondo, accompanied by his staff, landed at the custom pier, where he was met by the supreme commander of the Japanese Expeditionary Forces. Together, they inspected various parts of Swatow in which the fighting had taken place.

The naval air force had cooperated fully with the land forces in their attack on the Chinese positions, after successfully covering the Japanese landing operations. Naval planes also dropped handbills, urging the Chinese to cease their futile resistance against the Japanese, and urging non-combatants to go about their business as usual. Bombing and strafing of the fort at Kilu, east of Swatow, proved very effective, facilitating the advance of the Japanese land forces to a great degree. Attacks on Chinese positions in the interior, including Shanghang and Meihsien, also struck terror into the enemy. Mention must be made here of the impressive role played by Japanese flying-boats in the Swatow campaign.

Occupation of Chaochow

The naval air force on June 23rd visited the common border of the three provinces of Fukien, Kiangsi and Kwangtung, and attacked important Chinese military bases at Pinghwo and Nanyung. Naval air units also flew

over the Chasan highway and bombed 40 or more lorries near Fengshun. Ten motor-cars attempting to cross the bridge over the Han River were attacked and burned.

Following the capture of Swatow, a Japanese detachment assisted by aerial squadrons launched a drive on Chaochow, northern terminus of the Swatow-Chaochow Railway. On the night of June 25th, it advanced on Chaochow, overland and by the waterway, reaching a point approximately four kilometres south of Chaochow by dawn.

The military unit immediately launched a general attack against Chaochow, occupying the railway station early in the morning. Other Japanese units converged on the city by three routes from the western bank of the Han River south of Chaochow and reduced the town after hot fighting with the Chinese garrison troops.

Blockade of Wenchow and Foochow

Closely following the capture of Swatow, the Japanese fleet started fresh operations on Foochow, capital of Fukien Province, and Wenchow, in Chekiang Province, both treaty ports, in a determined effort to complete the blockade of the South China coast. Before the fresh operations started, Mr. Yoshiaki Miura, Japanese Consul-General at Shanghai, communicated to the Danish Consul-General, doyen of the foreign consular body, on the morning of June 27th to the following effect :

" The Japanese Navy is starting fresh military operations on Foochow and Wenchow, beginning June 27th. Third Power warships and merchant vessels in Wenchow hereby are requested to withdraw to points east of 121 degrees, 15 minutes East Longitude by noon, June 29th (Tokyo time), and those in the vicinity of Foochow hereby are requested to withdraw to points east of 119 degrees, 50 minutes East Longitude by the designated time. Entry into and clearance from those ports after noon, June 29th, will become impossible. The Japanese Navy will not assume responsibility for any consequence arising from the attempts to enter or clear from those ports after noon, June 29th."

Simultaneously with this communication to the foreign consular body, the Japanese fleet started operations against Wenchow and Foochow on June 27th.

A detachment of Japanese bluejackets which had been standing by landed on Hutow (Tiger's Head) Island, dominating Wenchow, and occupied it on June 27th. Another Japanese bluejacket unit occupied Yuhwan Island and Kanmen Port on the same morning. Meanwhile, other Japanese naval units constructed booms at the mouth of Wenchow Bay, after capturing numerous Chinese military craft.

Part of the Japanese landing party occupied Chwanshih Island at the mouth of the Min River and started constructing booms, while Japanese warships heavily bombarded the Chinese military positions on both banks of the river.

Naval air units devoted two days, June 27th and 28th, to spirited attacks against the Chinese military positions at the mouth of the river, with the result that an exodus of Chinese inhabitants started from there to the interior.

With the steady progress of the fresh operations on Wenchow and Foochow, the Japanese blockade against the South China coast has been tightened further, so that the supply of war materials to the Chiang Kai-shek régime through South China seaports has been severed completely.