FIGHTING IN INDO-CHINA

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1940, Page 7

FIGHTING IN INDO-CHINA

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

JAPANESE AIR ATTACK

Received 11 p.m. Hongkong, Septernber 24. TMGHTING in Indo-China is still progressing. This morning two Japanese planes were sliot down. French women and children are being evacuated from the border areas. A French communique states that the French suffered 60 casualties, a considerable number of which were killed. The Japanese admit that a number of their troops were killed. It is understood that the Chinese have proclaimed martial law throughout the provinces of Yunnan and Kwangsi, which border Indo-China.

Japanese planes, apparently opevating from an aircraft-carrier, made two daylight air raids on the strategic railway border town of Langson, which they also resumed shelling in the afternoon. Six Japanese planes twice concentrated bombs on Langson. The French announced that the Indo-Chinese forces had abandoned Dong Dang. A hospital train from the border has arrived at Hanoi carrying over 100 wounded. Red Cross stations are established throughout the city awaiting an emergency. The army has comman- [ deered motor-cars. x The French insist the Japanese are responsible for the border fighting because Sunday's agreement does not provide for the Canton army's entry into Indo-China, although it is admitted the French agreed to discuss the question in the fu ture. Commenting on Tokio's announcement of a peaceful and friendly entry into Indo-China, officials said: "Anyone who comes across the border in the middle of the night in combat formation and using arms is hardly friendly." Captured by Japanese. A Domei n6ws agency representative at an army base in south China reported that the Japanese captured 240 IndoChina troops, including several French offieers, when they occupied a blockhouse near Dong Dang. French losses were 131 killed but Japanese losses were very slight. Japanese Imperial headquarters at Tokio announced that the Indo-China army surrendered at 11 a.m. yesterday morning and was disarmed by the Japanese. A Hanoi cable says that the Japanese are reported to have attacked three outposts, Dong Dang, Blnhai and Chinma. The French issued a communique, stating: "Japanese forces attacked the French after receiving formal notification of the signing of the agreement." It added that the French granted the Japanese special facilities in Indo-China in return for which Japan gave an assurance that she would respect France's rights and interests in the Far East. Lieutenant-General Nishihara, head of the Japanese mission at Hanoi, is at present delaying carrying out the agreement and has postponed the landing of troops at Haiphong.