Tsingtao, Feb. 20.
Vice-Admiral Naokuni Nomura, commander-in-chief of the Japanese Naval Forces in North China waters, today announced a partial lifting of the prohibition on sea-borne traffic along the Shantung promontory.
Today's proclamation reopened to traffic the coast between Tsingtao and Haiyang, 100 kilometres northeast of Tsingtao. The Shantung coast between Weihaiwei and Tsingtao was closed to both ships and junks in a proclamation issued by Vice-Admiral Nomura on February 15: The two ports were excluded from the closed Visit Burma Chungking, Feb. 20.
Mr. T. K. Tseng, Administrative Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, is on his way to Burma, according to. an official Chinese report. He has left for Kunming by air, it is stated, and from that town, will travel to. Burma by road. Mr. Tseng is expected to stay some time in the Northern Shan states.
"The Vice-Minister is a member of the Board of Directors of the Sino-Burmese Cultural Association, and is reported to have travelled io and from Burma on several occasions in the past year—Reuter. area.
The lifting of the ban was interpreted here as indicating the satisfactory progress of the Japanese anti-guerilla operations against 20,000 Chinese irregulars on the eastern extremity of the Shantung promontory.
A Japanese Army detachment landed on Sunday at Shihtao, a harbour through which guerillas were alleged to smuggle arms and ammunition, yesterday noon occupied Sbangchwangchi, about 20 kilometres north of Shitao. Meanwhile, Japanese forces pushing from the west towards the sea were also reported to be making fast progress in pursuit of fleeing Chinese irregulars—Domei.
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