Hongkong, June 21.
APANESE forces, advancing rapidly inland after making two landings near the port at dawn, occupied Swatow at-2.50_p.m. today, official Japanese reports said. The Japanese troops entered Swatow after heavy bombardment by naval guns and aerial bombings at noon, the reports added.
A Japanese column was reported to be driving north and was alleged to have reached Anpow, some nine miles north of Swatow this afternoon. All Japanese warships in the vicinity of Swatow participated in the bombardment and the Chinese garrison protecting the port was reported to have suffered heavy casualties. Japanese planes repeatedly bombed the port since early morning.
All foreigners residing at Swatow were reported safe. The major portion of the Chinese population evacuated Swatow under orders from the commander of the Chinese gar-risen.
Several large fires were started, but whether they were the result of the naval gun bombardment and aerial bombings or a part of the Chinese "scorched earth" policy equid not be. definitely ascertained. Early foreign reports reaching here said that the Chinese were prepared to fire several parts of Swatow prior to the Japanese capture of the port.
"Blow to Chungking"
Six Japanese destroyers and several trawlers were in Swatow harbour early this afternoon, while three Japanese destroyers went upriver past Swatow. They did not proceed further than the Jardine Matheson and Butterfield & Swire pontoons. One Japanese destroyer anchored opposite the Asiatic Petroleum Company's installation, The Japanese Consul-General at Hongkong issued an official statement on the capture of Swatow.
"Since Canton's fall, Swatow has been an important port through which munitions were carried......" he said, "The occupation deals another blow at dwindling supplies to Chungking."
Japanese quarters at' Hongkong pointed out that th fall of Swatow would seriously affect the Chinese since the Japanese military and naval officials have "always attached great importance to Swatow.
Swatow, they asserted, in recent months, replaced Hongkong as a port for importing arms and war materials from abroad and enjoyed a prosperous export tr Since the fall of Canton, Swatow was the chief clearing port for Chinese tungsten, tung oil and wood oil, they sald.—United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.