FIGHTING REPORTED IN INDOCHINA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 217, 12 September 1940, Page 8

FIGHTING REPORTED IN INDOCHINA.

AGAINST JAPS. French Leader's Appeal To United States. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Reed. 10 a.m.) LOXDOX, Sept. 11. A Central news agency dispatch from Kwangsi reports the outbreak of Sino-Japanese hostilities within Indo-China, and add* that the Chinese are fighting 2000 Japanese just across the frontier. Arrivals in Singapore from IndoChina report that the Japanese demands are:— (1) Three air bases in Tongking with 8000 personnel each. (2) The use of the Camranah Bay naval base. (3) The passage of 60,000 troops through Tongking. It is declared that the Governor , , Admiral Decoux, is holding out against the Japanese, but he cannot do so much longer owing to pressure from the Vichy Government. One report says Admiral Decoux has already agreed to three aerodromes of 1000 personnel and the passage of 20,000 troops. Another report says that Admiral Decoux has sent three telegrams to President Roosevelt. The contents are not known, but it is "believed they pointed out Indo-Cliina's critical position, especially as 95 per cent of the population is against the Vichy Government and in favour of General de Gaulle." A Kweilin message states that the Japanese have transferred 4000 troops from Lungchow to the Indo-China border, also 5000 volunteer high school students from Formosa.