ENCLOSURE IN CANTON DESPATCH TO H.M. AMBASSADOR
39
SHANGHAI.
No. 217 of 3rd December, 1938.
EXTRACT FROM THE "FIELD TELEGRAPH NEWS", NO. 16 of
NOVEMBER 30th, 1938, ISSUED AT CANTON BY THE JAPANESE ARMY
REPORT DEPARTMENT.
Canton Nov. 30.
I.J.A. Report Dept.
Mr. Kitamura, authority in Shipping navigation among the
Japanese forces for South-China and chief of a corp, stated
as follow.
At present, Whampoa, at a distance of 2 Kilometer east-
south from Canton, three ships of about 5,000 class can bring
alongside the pier, other three, along the quay-wall by the
effort of the Japanese Army. If in future the great port
will be constructed there, the prosperity of Hong Kong must
be snatched away without doubt. It takes about a half hour
to reach by motor car from Canton, however the road, Canton-
Whampoa, had already been inaugurated by the local Chinese
Government. So it can be completed in the small cost and
work. The Japanese Army is also planning to make reclaimed
land of about 100,00 moles at just behind Whampoa, and in
future it is to be opened for the general use. Since it
seems to me that Canton intends to develop gradually toward
the east direction, Whampoa has the sufficient possibility
to be a centre of shipping. Further. Along the quay-wall
of about 350 meters in the reclaimed land at the corner of
west-north of Honam, Canton, the vessel, having draught of
5 metres, is being brought in there. If behind the
reclaimed land faced Shameen, a beautiful spot, the new land
of about 50,000 moles will be reclaimed, and the port cannot
bear comparison with the foreign and Issen Kissen Company's
wharves. Thus in future this port will be surely a centre
of an inland navigation. If the Japanese Army attempts to
let them use for the general purpose with its whole capacity of transport, the prosperity of the port can be favourably
expected.
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