Scarcely had the Japanese soldiers piled their rifles and removed their packs when the window of one of the cabarets was opened and a Japanese woman handed out cigarettes to the troops and spoke to them in Japanese. Everybody was amazed to find a Japanese woman in Hankow. She was possibly a Korean.
Captain Saunders and Father Jacqui not then investigated whether the road ahead had been cleared for the Japanese forces, after which the march was resumed. There were no incidents. The few Chinese visible looked on in silence.
(Continued on page 6)
Hongkong, Oct. 27.
First formal contact between British and Japanese at Hongkong since the beginning of hostilities in South China was made this morning when Major Matsutani, representing the Japanese Commander-in-Chief, arrived from Canton and called on the Governor, the British Admiral and the General Officer in Command of British troops, in turn.
Later at a press conference at the Japanese Consulate, Major Matsutani Said that the Japanese expedition to South China was of a purely military nature with the object of cutting off supplies of arms and munitions in order to hasten the downfall of the Chiang Kai-shek regime.
He added that foreign properties in occupied areas are under the protec-
are exerting every effort to respect tion of the Japanese, who, he declared, the rights and interests of Third Powers.
River To Be Reopened Questioned regarding the reopening of the Pearl River, and the restoration of communications between Canton and Hongkong, Major Matsutani said that as soon as possible after Occupation of the area is completed [and peace and order restored, the river will be opened up to shipping. Concerning the railway, he could make no prediction, saying that intensive repairs would be necessary.
He denied reports of guerilla activities in the zones between Canton and Hongkong, stating that the Japanese had the situation under control, although cleaning-up operations might later be necessary east of the railway from Sheklung to the Colony border, where some Chinese remnants are thought to still remain.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.