JAPANESE THRUST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1941, Page 6

JAPANESE THRUST

THROUGH INDO=CHINA AND THAILAND SAID TO BE IN EARLY PROSPECT MOVE AGAINST SINGAPORE AND BURMA ROAD. ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright I (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) SAIGON, March 20. An Associated Press of America correspondent says there are widespread, but as yet unconfirmed reports today that the Japanese are planning within the next two weeks to send 100,000 troops from Hainan Island across the middle of French Indo-China to Thailand, after which the Japanese will either proceed to Bangkok . and toward British Malaya or turn north-east toward the Burman border, in an attempt to isolate Chungking and prevent the movement of military supplies over the Burma Read. The Associated Press of America points out that this dispatch presumably passed by strict censorship of the French at Saigon. The Associated Press of America’s reports are. given wide credence here by persons regarded as competent, to judge. These sources are of opinion that a land expedition would avoid the risks which. a move farther south by sea would involve, and also would insure a safe and dependable supply route. It was suggested here that this might be Thailand’s way of paying Japan for the territorial gains she has made under Japanese mediation. It was also remarked that the reported undertaking might be a Japanese retaliatory move against the British Empire forces now on Thailand’s southern border in . Malaya, guarding the land approach to Singapore. It is believed here that it would be impossible for the Japanese to capture Singapore by naval action. Therefore an overland attack would be more logical.