Hongkong, June 21.
Japanese Army and Navy units today effected a landing at two places in the vicinity of Swatow, according to an official Japanese communique.
In spite of stiff resistance, the Japanese claim to be pushing inland. Fighting is said to be in progress.
The initial landing at Swatow was effected shortly before 4 a.m. by between 300 and 500 men, who landed on either bank of the river.
After encountering considerable resistance, the Japanese objective is reported to have been achieved at 9 a.m, after which the transports proceeded upriver, while troops and mechanized units poured ashore.
Meanwhile, the vanguard was pushing inland on either side of Swatow, with the apparent intention of encircling the city and cutting the railway from Swatow to Chauchow, 27 miles inland.
These Japanese operations at Swatow were foreshadowed by earlier news from reliable sources that, the Japanese were stopping British ships outside Swatow and advising them not to enter the harbour.
The British steamers Yusang, Suiyang and Marie Moller were among the steamers stopped by the Japanese.
The British destroyer Thanet (905 tons) is at present standing by to watch the situation.
The U.S.S. Pillsbury is also standing by at Swatow, where 40 Americans are estimated to be residing in addition to 20 others in the interior.
There is also a sizeable British community—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.