FRENCH SUCCESS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 255, 25 September 1940, Page 7

FRENCH SUCCESS

BATTLE WITH JAPANESE

STAND IN INDO-CHINA

(United Press Association—Copyright.) (Ree. 11 a.m.) HANOI, Sept. 24. The Drench have recaptured Dongdang, which was earlier abandoned. It is reported the Drench are making a determined stand at Langson. Drench artillery are shelling from strong fortifications, taking heavy toll of the Japanese, whose bodies are piled high along the roads outside Langson.

The Japanese announce that they will be launching a major attack tomorrow, including the bombing of Haiphong. The Japanese appear to be ' attacking independently of General Nishihara, who has sailed from Haiphong for Hainan and is reported to be at : tempting to persuade General Ando, commanding the Japanese army in South China, to dehay his attack.

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 a landing.

Haiphong schools are closed and trains are evacuating civilians. The French-Japanese' agreement signed on September 22 has been cancelled. The Chungking paper Takung Pao says: “French realism is synonymous with surrender. The time has arrived for America to adopt effective action in the Western Pacific and replace her empty words, which arc useless.” The Chinese Cabinet is understood to have protested to France that it will hold France responsible for any losses or damage incurred as a result of the Indo-China agreement. A Haiphong message states that the fighting on the border ceased at noon, but French officials state that the situation is still very grave.