FRENCH RECAPTURE DONG DANG

Evening Star, Issue 23690, 25 September 1940, Page 10

FRENCH RECAPTURE DONG DANG

DETERMINED STAND AT LANGSON AGREEMENT WITH JAPANESE CANCELLED HANOI, September 24. (Received September 25, at 10.30 a.m.) The French have recaptured Dong Dang. It is reported that the French are making a determined stand at Langson. The French artillery is shelling from strong fortifications and taking a heavy toll of the Japanese, whose bodies are piled high.along the roads outside Langson. The Japanese announced that they are launching a major attack on September 25, including the bombing of Haiphong. The Japanese appear to bo attacking independently. Major-gene-ral Nishihara, who sailed from Haiphong for Hainan, is reported to he attempting to persuade General Ando,

commanding the Japanese army in South China, to delay . the attack. Major-general Nishihara encountered a Japanese invasion fleet of eight transports, one cruiser, and three destroyers en route to Haiphong. He is reported to have asked the fleet commander to defer the attempt at lauding. The Haiphong schools are closed, and trains are evacuating civilians. The French-Japanese agreement signed on September 22 has been cancelled. SITUATION STILL VERY GRAVE * TOKIO, September 24. (Received September 25, at 11.50 a.m.) A Haiphong message states that fighting on the border ceased at noon, hut French officials state that the situation is still very grave. JAPAN'S PROGRAMME 4 - COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME APPROVED TOKIO, September 24. (Received September 25, at 11.40 a.m.) Cabinet approved of a long-planning scheme involving Japan, Manchukuo, and China, and aiming at the development of the highest state of the defence system for the establishment of the widely-heralded “ Greater East Asia,” and common prosperity in that sphere. The plan schedules the decentralisation of industries to fit varied local and other conditions.