Na primeira página da edição de 16 de Outubro de 1938 o jornal The New York Times destacava o isolamento de Hong Kong e Macau face ao avanço das tropas japonesas em Cantão. A 2ª guerra sino-japonesa estava em marcha e iria alastrar-se ao conflito mundial - que se vivia até então apenas na Europa - quando no final de Dezembro de 1941 o exército japonês invadiu a então colónia britânica.
A partir de um telegrama da agência de notícias Associated Press o jornal norte-americano titula:
Hong Kong Cut Off from Canton Area by Japanese Drive - Communications on Railway, road and River are ended by South China Fighting - Macao also is isolated - 40,000 invaders press on from Bias Bay - spokesmen Threaten Foreign Areas.
A notícia reporta o isolamento de Hong Kong em termos de comunicações - por estrada, caminho de férreo e via marítima - fruto do avanço do exército nipónico que tinha naquela zona cerca de 40 mil homens. As tropas estavam a apenas 25 milhas de distância...
Também Macau viria a ficar isolado do mundo adivinhando-se dias negros...
All comunications between this British crown colony and Canton were interrupted tonight, as Japanese forces broadened their onslaught on the South China coast. Railway and highway bridges have been destroyed at several points by aerial bombardments. The air raids shielded Japanese expeditionary forces surging toward Canton and across its links with the coast. Booms have been placed in the Pearl [Canton] river to guard the city of Canton from direct naval assault. A Japanese landing on the west shore of the river delta cut a highway connection between Canton and Portuguese Macao, opposite Hongkong at the river mouth. The Japanese were reported to have struck on the west delta shore - apparently the second major land. ing operation of the week-under cover of an intense aerial bombard. The highway was cut before provincial defenses in that sector could be organized. A Japanese column, part of the model army of 40,000 which landed Wednesday at Bias bay, was thrust. ing westward from the captured and ruined village of Tamshui. One re- port placed this spearhead twelve miles from the Canton-Kowloon railway. This railway is a vital link between Hong Kong and Canton.
All comunications between this British crown colony and Canton were interrupted tonight, as Japanese forces broadened their onslaught on the South China coast. Railway and highway bridges have been destroyed at several points by aerial bombardments. The air raids shielded Japanese expeditionary forces surging toward Canton and across its links with the coast. Booms have been placed in the Pearl [Canton] river to guard the city of Canton from direct naval assault. A Japanese landing on the west shore of the river delta cut a highway connection between Canton and Portuguese Macao, opposite Hongkong at the river mouth. The Japanese were reported to have struck on the west delta shore - apparently the second major land. ing operation of the week-under cover of an intense aerial bombard. The highway was cut before provincial defenses in that sector could be organized. A Japanese column, part of the model army of 40,000 which landed Wednesday at Bias bay, was thrust. ing westward from the captured and ruined village of Tamshui. One re- port placed this spearhead twelve miles from the Canton-Kowloon railway. This railway is a vital link between Hong Kong and Canton.
Sugestão de leitura: Macau 1937-1945: os anos da guerra
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