Hoihow, Feb. 3.
Japanese forces on Hainan Island carried out mopping-up operations 'Communist. troops and guerilla corps infesting area near Howshui and Tanhsien' in the past week in ce-operation it and naval units, said a communique issued yesterday by the headquarters of the 'Japanese naval forces in South China, 'The Chinese abandoned 1,500 dead, the statement said, 'Though there was every indication that order had been established since the landing of Japanese forces about tone year' ago, there still were stragglers in many parts of the island, especially in' the north-west, the hunt of Communists, where' anti-Japanese feeling was strong, accord ing to the communique.
Chinese remnants were disturbing peace and imposing oppressive taxes on the people, the statement claimed.—Domei.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.