Although it has thus far been spared "by Japanese naval forces in South China waters, Hainan Island, China's largest insular possession off the southern Kwangtung coast, is expecting an attack at any moment.
Two Japanese cruisers, according to a report received here from Mr. Huang Wen-kao, magistrate of Wanning in the south-eastern part of the S|islang, dropped anchor in Tsaiyu harbour there yesterday. Shortly after their arrival, three seaplanes took to the air and conducted a lengthy reconnaissance flight along the coast.
Chinese defence forces, recently strengthened by fresh reinforcements from the mainland, are now closely watching the Japanese warships, ready to repel any attack when and if attempted.
From the strategic point of view, Hainan Island, which has been receiving considerable attention from Chinese government leaders and officials and industrial leaders because of its vast economic potentialities, is not only essential to the defence of Kwangtung province from the south but is also important to the defence of Hongkong and French Indo-China.—Central News.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.