INDO-CHINA IS ATTACKED

Southland Times, Issue 24240, 25 September 1940, Page 5

INDO-CHINA IS ATTACKED

BORDER TOWN BOMBED BY JAPANESE

HANOI, September 24. The Japanese made two daylight air raids on the strategic railway border town of Langson, in French Indo-China, They also resumed shelling in the afternoon. Six Japanese planes twice concentrated bombs on Langson airport and market place. Fighting went on at Langson all afternoon. The French announced that the IndoChinese have abandoned Dongdang. The Japanese planes which bombed Langson were apparently operating from an aircraft carrier. A hospital train from the border arrived at Hanoi carrying over 100 wounded. Red Cross stations have been established throughout the city, awaiting an emergency. The army has commandeered motorcars.

The French insist that the Japanese are responsible for the border fighting, because Sunday’s agreement does not provide for the entry of the Canton army into Indo-China, although it is admitted that the French agreed to discuss file question in the future. Commenting on Tokyo’s announcement of a peaceful, friendly entry into Indo-China, officials said: “Anyone coming across the border in the middle of , the night in combat formation using

arms is hardly friendly.” A broadcast by the Domei News Agency (Tokyo) slates that bitter fighting was this morning progressing between the French and the Japanese on the northern frontier of Indo-China after all night sporadic engagements near Dongdang. Tire French fired on the Japanese crossing the border shortly after midnight, despite notification to the French commander that the Japanese were proceeding under the terms of the Hanoi agreement. Overcoming the opposition the Japanese occupied the heights to the southward of Dongdang this morning. The broadcast claimed that the French used gas. Japanese Imperial Headquarters have announced that the Indo-China army surrendered at 11 o’clock in the morning and was disarmed by the Japanese. In Washington Mr Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, declared that the status quo in Indo-China had been upset through duress. He reiterated United States disapproval, but did not indicate possible United States steps to give concrete weight to this disapproval.

Mr Hull said he had no confirmation officially that the United States cruiser Augusta might go to Singapore for overhaul, saying that, if the report were true, it was a common custom and courtesy among nations to permit a vessel to enter the nearest dry dock if repairs were urgently required. Other quarters, however’ suggested that the dry docking of the Augusta at Singapore might have tremendous repercussions, as it would be the first official use of Singapore for servicing an American vessel.