MORE ARRESTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 1940, Page 5

MORE ARRESTS

OF SUSPECTED SPIES GENDARMERIE STATEMENT WHOLESALE RAID DECIDED UPON. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) TOKIO, July 30. The gendarmerie have arrested an undisclosed number of suspected spies at Kurume and Shimonoseki. A Kurume gendarmerie statement reads: “With the rapid change in the international situation recently, foreign spies’ activities have reached such a stage that they can no longer be overlooked, “and in such circumstances it was decided to effect” a wholesale raid on suspected persons on July 27 and put them under examination at Shimonoseki and Nagasaki.” OFFICER’S STORY HOW MR COX DIED. ALLEGED PLUNGE THROUGH WINDOW. 1 TOKIO, July 30. According to an authentic version, Mr Cox was arrested at his beach cottage at Chigasaki, escorted to Tokio and imprisoned. The Consul-General (Mr R. L. Cowley) made an effort, but was refused an interview. Mrs Cox delivered food and clothing on Saturday and Sunday, but was prohibited an interview. Mr Cowley on Monday afternoon arrived at headquarters and met Mrs Cox running from the building shouting: “Jimmy’s been hurt.” Mr Cowley entered under,escort and found Mr Cox lying on a. divan. A high-ranking officer said: “Come and I will show you what happened.” He went to the third floor and explained that he had been questioning Cox. He said Cox walked about the room, drank some water and suddenly plunged through the window. “We treated Mr Cox very well because he was a foreigner and gave him the best attention by three medical officers.” The fall broke both his legs-and he was injured in the head. Injections restored consciousness, but he died en route to the hospital. Mrs Cox denied that her husband was engaged in espionage. He had merely been doing his regular work of foreign correspondent. NEUTRAL OPINION JAPAN MAY JOIN AXIS. IN WAR AGAINST BRITAIN. (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) SHANGHAI, July 30. Neuttal diplomats are of the opinion that the Tokio arrests foreshadow dramatic Japanese action, possibly the joining of the Axis in the war against Britain. The neutrals have had no specific information, but say that high Japanese army officials privately state that Japan might agree to territorial concessions to Russia, guaranteeing the security of Vladivostock. in exchange for a free hand in southward expansion. ARMY THREAT DEMAND FOR DEPORTATION OF AMERICANS. TOKIO. July 30. Mr Miyada said General Tojo told Cabinet that the army would not hesitate to take drastic measures against Japanese assisting '‘foreign secret agents.” also those who were proBritish. A Shanghai message says the American radio commentator (Mr C. D. Alcott) advised the United States Consul-General (Mr Richard) that a Russian-Japanese operative. Nathan Rabinovitch, had telephoned demanding that Mr Alcott cease his tri-weekly radio broadcasts. It is understood that the United States authorities are taking the threat seriously since Mr Alcott is one of six prominent men whose deportation the Nanking Puppet Government demanded.