Evening star., 1939-06-27
Japan Opens Drive
Against Two More
South China Ports
Thursday DeodIine Set
For Withdrawal of All
Third-Power Ships
BY the Associated Press.

6s tlie nsSoeldteo FreSS.
SHANGHAI, June 27.-The JAP
anese navy today announced offen-
sives against two more Chinese
ports, warned the United States and
other powers to remove their vessels
and declared the ports would be
closed to foreign shipping.
A Thursday noon deadline was
given for withdrawal of third power
ships, after which Japan would not
be responsible for their safety.
United States and other foreign ma
tionals were urged by the Japanese
to leave the two cities, Wenchow
and Foochaw.
British authorities answered with
warning that japanese would be
held responsible for any interfer-
ence with British shipping or en-
dangering Of British lives and prop
critics.
The United States position was
not made known Immediately but
observers pointed out that a SINH
lar Japanese warning in the case of
Swatow was rejected promptly.
The British consulate-general, in
note to the Japanese, said Britain
would not accept the Japanese
warning as relieving Japan of re-
sponsibility and added:
THE right of British vessels, in
cluding warships, to proceed to and
remain in any place in Chinese
waters including the treaty ports of
Foochow and Wenchow and the
right of British subjects to reside at
or near Foochow and Wenchow re-
mains unaffected"
Last Important Chinese Port.
BY capturing Wenchow and Foo
chow Japan would gain the last two
important ports under Chinese con-
troll.
The new drives were announced
within a week of the virtual closing
OF the port of Ningpo and the fall
OF Swatow, where British and
United States warcraft refused to
heed a Japanese warning to with
draw.
The Japanese warned neutral YES
sells to leave the two ports "by noon
OF June 20, after which the ports will
be closed to ships other than Japa-
nese."
The announcement indicated the
ports would be mined to keep out
foreign vessels, saying:
entrances to the two harbors will
be closed by means of dangerous OBJ
Jects and other obstacles for reasons
OF military necessity. ." japanese
authorities cannot assume any re-
sponsibility for losses suffered bv
vessels remaining in the harbors
after noon of the 29th."
Wenchow is in Chekiang Province.
23O miles south of Shanghai, and
Foochow Is in Fukien Province, $50
miles south of Shanghai. Formerly
an important transporting center,
Foochow has normal population
OF $4,000. Many have left the city
because of intensive japanese bomb
ings.
FoOchow Landing Announced.
Wenchow, whose chief exports are
rice and tea. likewise had been SUBJ
jected to aerial attacks in recent
weeks.
A japanese landing in the vicinity
OF Foochow was announced this
morning.
Shanghai and Hong Kong dis
patches placed the British de-
stroyer Duchess at Foochow.
The United States gunboat Ashe-
vile was at Annoy, $50 miles south
of Foochow.)
Foreign business interests at Foo
chow are small, but it is the head
quarters for extensive American and
British missionary activity. There
were said to be 20 Americans in the
city and 40 in nearby towns.
Foreign vessels were forbidden by
JapaSese yesterday to land at Swa-
tow and were ordered to keep away
from wharves during military opera :
tions.
Japanese announced this after
noon that their troops had entered
Chaochow after a six-day land and
water drive from Swatow