PRESSURE ON JAPAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 December 1940, Page 5

PRESSURE ON JAPAN

The officials said that foreign intelligence reports indicated that numerous Germans have been arriving in Japan for months past and that Hitler is exerting pressure on Japan to put a “squeeze” on the United States while Hitler strikes in Europe. Naval circles understand that the German vessels will not only be used as commerce raiders in an effort to drive British shipping from the routes in the Pacific and Indian Ocean but also may be used as the vanguard of the Japanese moves to the Dutch East Indies. They say that it is understood that tremendous troop movements from central and south China to Formosa and Hainan Island are taking place. All preparations are completed for a southward push. However, it is pointed out that no (North China) units have been moved, indicating that the Japanese fears of Russia are not dissipated. A message from Shanghai says the “North China Daily News” quotes “reliable sources” as claiming that the Olav Jakob carried a Norwegian crew from the s.s. Talleyrand, which the Germans sunk. It states that members of the Talleyrand’s crew were transferred to the Scharnhorst at Kobe. However, the prisoners signalled another Norwegian vessel, after which the Norwegian authorities protested to Japan. The Japanese searched the Scharnhorst and released the Norwegians, who boarded the Empress of Asia and proceeded to Singapore.