BITTER FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 September 1940, Page 6

BITTER FIGHTING

ON NORTHERN FRONTIER OF INDO-CHINA REPORTED BY JAPANESE. OPPOSITION OVERCOME. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 23. The Domei News Agency, in a broadcast, states that bitter fighting is in progress between the French and Japanese on the northern frontier of Indo-China, after all night sporadic engagements in the vicinity of Dong Dang. The French fired on Japanese crosssing the border shortly after midnight, despite a notification to the French commander that the Japanese were proceeding under the terms of the Hanoi agreement. Overcoming the opposition, the Japanese occupied heights southward of Dong Dang this morning. The broadcast claimed that the French used gas.

SURRENDER REPORTED INDO-CHINA ARMY DISARMED. (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) TOKIO, September 23. Imperial headquarters announced that the Indo-China Army surrendered at 11 this morning and was disarmed by the Japanese. ! LANDING POSTPONED BY HEAD OF JAPANESE MISSION. STATEMENT BY THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES. (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) HANOI, September 23. The Japanese are reported to have attacked three outposts, Dong Dang, Binhai and Chinma. The French have issued a communique stating that Japanese forces attacked the French after receiving formal notification of the signing of an agreement. It is added that the French had 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. Major-General Nishihara is at present delaying carrying out the agreement, but has postponed the landing of troops at Haiphong.

STRONG PROTEST MADE BY CHINESE FOREIGN OFFICE. MEASURES OF SELF-DEFENCE TO BE TAKEN. (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) CHUNGKING, September 23. The Chinese say the Japanese will be unable to attack from IndoChina for at least a fortnight. They point out that the Chinese have destroyed the Laokay Bridge, also a section of the HaiphongKunming railways. The Chinese Foreign Office has strongly protested to the French authorities in Indo-China against the agreement with Japan and asserted “that China is entitled to take the measures of self-defence deemed necessary. It is added that the French must bear the responsibility for losses and consequences. MR HULL RETICENT DISAPPROVAL REITERATED. BUT NO INDICATION OF ACTION. (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 23. The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, declared that the status quo of Indo-China was upset through duress. He reiterated United States disapproval, but did not indicate possible United States steps to give concrete weight to this disapproval.