Larger Craft Not Expected For Three Weeks Canton, Nov. 4.
When interviewed by Reuter to-day at his headquarters at Tungshan, Mr. Tenaka, Chief of Staff of the Japanese South China Expeditionary force, expressed concern regarding the nonreturn of the Chinese population to Canton.
This development, he said, was holding up the realisation of Japan's desire to restore trade and business to normal.
The Japanese had no nominee in mind for the head of the proposed new regime in South China, Mr. Tanaka continued, and all efforts for the organization of a local government obviously depended on the return of the population.
Mr. Tanaka stated that the Japanese navy, With a view to reopening river traffic as soon as possible, was doing its utmost to clear the Pearl River of mines, about a hundred of which had already been removed, When asked to estimate the date when the river would be reopened, the officer said: "In three or four Gays' time it will be possible for small ships to travel, but larger vessels (river steamers) will not be able to navigate the river for two or three weeks"
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