Chinese Prepare For Offensive

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 230, 27 September 1940, Page 7

Chinese Prepare For Offensive

INDO-CHINA MOVE Evacuate Nationals Before Launching Attack On Japs

(United Press Association.—Copyright.—Rec noon.) LONDON, September 26. The "Central Daily News" says Chinese troops are preparing to enter Indo-China. The Chinese Foreign Office has instructed its Hanoi Consulate to arrange the urgent evacuation of Chinese from Indo-China and also negotiate compensation for all Chinese losses as a result of the Hanoi agreement. It was officially announced by both French and Japanese authorities that the Indo-China border incident has been settled and that fighting has ceased completely. Prior to the landing of almost 2000 troops, including a column of tanks at Hanoi. Japanese dropped four bombs in the native quarter, causing 15 casualties. Troops marched through Haiphong streets en route to a specially prepared garrison. The Hongkong authorities have refused clearances to British ships bound for Indo-China and have recalled those en route. Domei's Southern China correspondent says it is officially announced that Japanese forces landed peacefully near Haiphons this morning. The Havas news agency expresses the belief that the cessa tion of hostilities will enable the Hanoi agreement, granting the Japanese certain military facilities in Indo-China, to be put into force. A message from Tokyo states that Japanese forces, which went to French Indo-China by sea, have landed near Haiphong. This is stated to be in accordance with the terms of the Hanoi agreement. Prior to the news of the cessation of hostilities the New York "Daily News" reported that the representative of IndoChina at Washington, Colonel Jacomy. was going to Hanoi bv air, bearing promises of aid short of war from the United States, including permission to buy war materials, conditional on IndoChina fighting effectively and remaining independent of Nazi influences. The "Daily News" added that the Governor-General of Indo-China, Admiral Decoux, had dispelled fears that he was a Nazi puppet, and it was now hoped that he would lead the fighting and inspire the remainder of French colonials.