The Japanese cast longing eyes towards the mainland as far as Chuanchow, towards Foochow and Changchow, the southern military centre on the road to Swatow, hoping by seizing these to save the situation. They think that if the hinterland were in their possession irade would return to Amoy and prosperity to them. That is doubtful. The Chinese are allowed to take food to Amoy where it is searce and dear, but they may take nothing from Amoy to Kulangsu. No one prohibits them from taking goods to Amoy; it would be to their advantage to do so. Yet nothing is ever taken by the thousands of people who Ncck -across daily and retura in the evening. Searchers, male and female, watch the jetty to stop articles from being smuggled across.
One day, during a heavy rain storm hundreds stood drenched in the wet hurried a high Japanese official off on his unexpected journey to Formosa and subsequently to Tokyo.
At any rate some sort of bargain was made and August 15 was fixed as the day of the invasion. Seven small gunboats brought the Japanese forces across the straits and they landed without opposition. Everything, indeed, seemed to have been prepared to facilitate their adventure.
The troops at first advanced slowly and cautiously led by the bandit traitor, Ong Peck-tong, but subsequently, as not the slightest opposition was encountered, they moved on more rapidly and with confidence. Five aeroplanes scouted overhead along the line of advance ready to give assistance, The whole country was deserted and lay at the feet of the conquering invade Late in the day the advance guard reached the environs of Tongan,. Maebang, a suburb of that city, the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.