HONG KONG: The Last Citadel

From Hong Kong, TIME Correspondent Wilson Fielder cabled:

His Excellency the Governor, scanning the sunny skies over Hong Kong, rested his eyes on a reassuring spectacle. A squadron of Spitfires screamed down in mock attack over the blue-green waters of Victoria Harbor. Their target: an aircraft carrier lying at anchor amid a great clutter of cargo junks, sampans and merchant ships from all parts of the world. "If they know we're strong," said Sir Alexander Grantham, referring to Hong Kong's 1,800,000 Chinese, "they're for us."

The maneuvering Spitfires were not the only show of strength which Great Britain had staged to impress...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!