Nantangchow district, on the north bank of the Yangtze mouth, and Tsungming Island in the Yangtze off Woosung were occupied by Japanese forces on March 17. Hitherto, the course of Japanese operations has left this district neglected as more important objectives were in view and these isolated points were of cof little importance although Chinese forees, said. to be of a police character, were stilt stationed there, Nantungchow was bombed at oan arly stage of the hostilities when a mission hospital suffered heavily, but since that time tittle "attention was paid to the area. which enabled an encouraging volume of shipping acivity. between Shanghai and Nantungchow. Cargo transhipment became possible, using a series of creeks to transport cargo around the boom created by the Chinese near Kiangyin, and the very important problem of food. supplies from the hinterland for Shanghai's millions has been considerably alleviated a5 shipping activity: along The Bund has plainly indicated, The question now arises: Will this source of supplies be closed or food transport facilities restricted? Japanese occupation of various parts of China has generally resulted in & disincling tion to permit easily free access or speedy zesumption of normal business activities, The Chinese authorities provided t according to local inquiries, a considerable Imerease in food prices. In the case of pork, It ts reported that the present price is 52 per cent, higher than a week ago—an increase out of all proportion to conditions. This, of course, is not the result of the Japanese operations. Military, naval and alr force units successfully completed their plan in the Nantungchow district within two hours and the operations were carried out after due warning had been conveyed to foreign shipping. Now in control of this district, it is hoped that the Japanese will do all in their power to permit re-opening and the restoration of the food trade which means so much to Shanghai
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.