Navy Section in Tokyo has issued the following statement: "Since the outbreak of hostilities the Imperial Navy has blockaded the entire Chinese coast for approximately 2,800 nautical miles against Chinese shipping. At the same time the naval air force has bombarded Chinese military centres and transportation facilities throughout China, thus effectively hampering the movement of military supplies.
"The successful landing of strong Japanese military and naval forces in South China will have a grave effect on Gen. Chiang's regime, It will cut off the main source of Chinese supplies, destroy the most important base of anti-Japanese operations and, in conjunction with the drive ' on Hankow, mark a turning point in the Japanese campaign.
"The forces landed in South China are making favourable progress. Naval planes and warships are cooperating with them and the Naval Landing Party also is engaged against the Chinese living on the islands near the landing point."
Two narrow escapes from typhoons were experienced by the Japanese Expeditionary Force bound for South China, a Foreign Office spokesman revealed last night.
The Force first was threatened with. diasasfer west of the Philippine Islands on October 6, he said. However, the typhoon shifted clear of the China Sea.
A second typhoon appeared east of the Philippines on October 10 but veered northeast again sparing the transports. The expedition enjoyed fine weather until forces were landed at an. undisclosed point in South China.—Domei, Hankow Public Stunned at Invasion Hankow, Oct. 13.
The Chinese general' public. is stunned by the news of the Japanese landing yesterday on the Kwangtung coast. Well-informed circles here, however, rather expected the invasion of South China following the resignation recently of Gen, Ugaki, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs.
According to information available here, Gen. Ugaki opposed such an invasion, or any measures which might have prejudiced relations between Japan and foreign Powers. He was also understood to have urged the cessation of hostilities following the occupation of Hankow.
With the resignation of the former Foreign Minister, and also the adoption of a policy of stronger action in China, Chinese circles believed that Japan might invade South China, which the Japanese had hitherto retrained from doing, due, it was thought, to the fear of complications with Great Britain and France.
Japan's invasion of South China is believed here to aim:
1. At diverting the attention of the Chinese forces at present stubbornly holding up the Japanese advance on Hankow:
2. At cutting the Canton-Hankow Railway, thereby preventing supplies from reaching China, via Hongkong. and also stopping Chinese exports from leaving the country.
The Chinese authorities, however, are confident that the Cantonese will put up a stiff fight since not only the Cantonese Army is well trained and equipped, but the Cantonese peasants are also organized and equipped for fighting—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.