1939-06-26 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 26, 1989.

EYE-WITNESS

ACCOUNT

OF SWATOW CAPTURE

UNOPPOSED OCCUPATION OF KWANGTUNG PORT

An exclusive account of the fall of Swatow to the Japanese on Wednesday last is given in a mes- sage to the "China Mail" from its Swatow cor- respondent.

According to this report, the Chinese troops made little effort to defend the waterfront itself, where they would have been subjected to enemy fire from point-blank range, but quick- ly fell back to prepared positions in the hinter- land.

On the evening after the attack, large fires lit up the sky. These formed part of the "scorched earth" policy of the Chinese, and did much damage.

The attack on Swatow took place on the day of this Chinese mid- summer festival, fortunately for the coolies working on the only two merchant vessels in harbour, the s.8. Prominent, a Norwegian vessel, and the s.s. Yingchow, a Butterfield and Swire steamer which had arrived from Tientsin a day or so previously.

DAME GORDON DEAD

London, To-day.

The death has occurred of Dame Maria Ogilvie Gordon.

Dame Gordon was a well-known geologistTM and feminist.—Reuter,

UNWHOLESOME PORK

A fine of $250 or, in default, with an alternative of three months* hard labour was imposed by Mr. E. Himsworth at Kowloon this morning on a pig roasting shop master, Lai Tong, found guilty of possession of 37 lbs. of unwhole- some pork.

foredeck, and the Japanese officer prosecuting, said

Sanitary Inspector A. C. Sinton, that A special was received at the head of the watch was set by him and his coolie, pilot's ladder by Lieutenant Stud-after a dead pig was missing from ley. Salutes were exchanged. Yaumati Pigs' Shelter. They saw Lieutenant Studley reported that a coolie. deliver the animal to the Yingchow was in the charge of 1038 Canton Road, where they

found defendant and the pig.

the British naval authorities. The Japanese officer said that if she did not leave port by 1 o'clock the

next afternoon, the Japanese would not be responsible for anything

that might happen to her.

REFUGEES CROWD STEAMER

the

More salutes, followed by of the

exit of the Japanese officer. Fol-

took up position in front Standard Vacuum Corporation pro-

A book found on the premises

showed that defendant had engaged in this business for a long

time and had sold pork at 20 cents per pound, when in fact, the market price of pork was between 40 cents and 50 cents per pound.

perty, and another by the Butter-lowing this, 'swarms of Chinese re- SCOTLAND YARD

field property.

fugees came on board the Ying- chow and the Prominent.

Following the taking over by BUSY: THREAT TO Japanese soldiers from the first of BALLOON BARRAGE

the Japanese of a Customs cruiser,

At odd intervals, these craft peppered the shore with "pom-pom" fire, presumably at snipers and small batches of Chinese troops the army transports were seen on seen moving about in the streets. the Bund in clusters, while other A large square tower over a transports came into the harbour At about 8 a.m. on Wednesday, modern concrete building forming and discharged large quantities of the first real sign of the invasion- a police station at a point just troops and equipment into motor- of Swatow was seen when Japan-west of Jardine's Swatow property boats which ferried them ashore. ese naval flags appeared at the was taken over by the Japanese entrance to the mouth of the river, Navy as a signalling and observa- ENTERED BRITISH PROPERTY being hoisted on Sugar Loaf tion tower, a large Japanese Naval Island, where a lighthouse and flag being hoisted over it. Japan- signal station controlled by the

ese troop transports were seen at Customs are situated, and on Masu the entrance to the harbour, wait- Island; at one time, the foreigning to come in and consolidate the pilots lived on Masu Island, which

position. now has quite a large fishing com- munity.

NAVAL GUARD

London, To-day. The bomb explosions in the West End on Saturday night.resulted in the greatest activity all day yester- day on the part of Scotland Yard.

Until a late hour last night, all available members of the force were The Japanese then "took over" employed in the search for the per- both the Customs House and part petrators of the outrages, but no of the Swatow property of Butter-arrests have been made so far, and field and Swire, flying a large Ja- of four persons arrested on Satur- panese flag from the flagpole. day night, three have been released, Away to the east, Japanese after the police had satisfied them- bombers were busy dropping theirselves of their innocence. deadly "eggs," while occasionally All railway stations in London Lieutenant Studley, R.N, and a a reconnaissance 'plane would were spęcially watched. naval guard, with tin hats and fix-drone its way over the harbour; The Air Ministry has issued About an hour later, a numbered bayonets, were placed on board some of the planes dropped pam-warning to all detachments of the of medium-sized, single-funnel Ja- the only British ship in port, the phlets "reassuring" the populace. Balloon Barrage to be on the look- panese mine-layers or trawlers Yingchow, by H.M.S. Thanet, and That evening, the sky to the out, as it is feared that Irish ex- came up the river, with all action not long afterwards a Japanese north of the city glowed and flick-tremists may choose the equipment stations manned. No resistance armed launch came alongside. ered, indicating the presence of of these defences as the object of was encountered. One of them The guard formed up on the large fires.

their next outrage.-Trans-Ocean,

POM-POM FIRE

a

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CHUNGKING

FOR INLAND

TRANSPORTATION

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C

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CHUNGKING

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DONG DANG

HAIPHONG

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PLEASE CONSULT

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