Lisbon, Apr. 10, Reported incidents between the Portuguese authorities in Macao and the Japanese forces were categorically denied today ina statement handed to. press representatives by the Ministry of Colonies here.
The following is the full text of the statement:
"Foreign agencies distributed to European newspapers telegrams from Hongkong announcing Incidents with the Japanese forces in Macao. The Government, which is in daily contact with the Governors of all Port. tuguese colonies, asserts that our relations with Japan are most friendly and the two countries expressed. the desire to maintain and tighten their friendship. No. incident whatsoever occurred up till now with the Japanese forces in Macao, who are respect ing our sovereignty and expressing sympathy towards our action in this colony. "Portugal maintained a most loyal neutrality in the present conflict between China and Japan. There is no justification for any" alarming engaging aggregate of 10,000 Chinese troops in south-western Kwangsi_ province in mopping-up operations since the end of March, Sapanese forces killed 1,030 and took prisoner 30 Chinese, military authorities here announced today.
Chinese losses, they said, would mount to several thousand when those sustained in Japanese air raids were counted.
'The Japan wore stated to have seized 259 rifles, 20 ut machine uns, five heavy' machine guns, five trench mortars, 15 heavy pistols, ten bomb throwers as well as a large amount of ammunition and insulated
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.