“OUT TO DESTROY"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 January 1941, Page 6

“OUT TO DESTROY"

; MISSION OF THAILAND FLEET I OPERATIONS AGAINST INDO-CHINA, AIR AND OTHER SUCCESSES CLAIMED. t ßy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighti BANGKOK. January 20. The Thai High Command announced that the navy is engaged in operations to “destroy the IndoChina fleet wherever they are hiding." It stated that heavy bombs squarely hit the French flagship La Motto Piquet (7249-ton cruiser). which is believed to have been sunk. The communique says that Thai forces "almost wiped out" the French sth Division on Saturday, when the French made a mass attack on an unspecified sector. French aircraft raided Praehinburi. Chandaburi and other areas yesterday, while Thai planes made reprisals, attacking the Siemreap aerodrome and military warehouses and barracks. FRENCH REPORT ENEMY UNITS BROKEN UP. TWO THAI SHIPS SUNK. HANOI. January 20. i “A Thai advanced unit was disi persed east of Poipet by our motorised units.” declared an official I communique, which adds. “On the Mekong River we entirely cleared the island of Donesanot, 45 miles south-east of Savannkhet. "On January 17 units belonging to lite French naval forces during a cruise in the Gulf of Siam encountered Thai ships, two of which were sunk and a third seriously damaged without loss to the French side. "French planes bombed the airfield at Praehinburi and also hangars and barracks at Wadhama and Aranya. where large fires were observed."