ON THE MOVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 November 1941, Page 5

ON THE MOVE

JAPANESE INDO-CHINA FORCES THREAT TO BURMA BORDER & THAILAND. SIR KEITH MURDOCH'S VIEW. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright! LONDON, November 4. From Chungking comes r. report of important movements of Japanese troops in Indo-China. A Chungking spokesman said that some of these troops were moving to the Burma border and others toward Thailand. Japan continues vaguely to threaten the United States without revealing what action she intends to take. A Tokio spokesman said today that the talks in Washington were virtually suspended. “Japan has said the last word. She now expects a deeper understanding of the position from the United States.” Speaking in New York on the situation in the Pacific, Sir Keith Murdoch, former Director-General of Information in Australia, who is on his way to visit Britain, said that Australian naval units from the Mediterranean were now being concentrated in the Pacific, particularly off the northern coast of Australia. Sir Keith described the situation in the Pacific as still critical, but added that it had become very much better since the arrival of the United States fleet in the Pacific. In his opinion Japan would go as far as she was allowed, but the Pacific situation would settle itself quickly if the organised strength of the democratic Powers was clear and ready. CRISIS EXPECTED GENERAL TOJO TO SPEAK. ON TALKS WITH UNITED STATES. LONDON. November 4. The inspired Tokio Press campaign against the United States shows every sign of preparing the Japanese for a crisis in the near future. The “Japan Times" says the Japanese Prime Minister (General Tojo) will give a full statement, at the forthcoming meeting of Parliament, on the negotiations with the United States, taking the people of Japan as much as possible into his confidence regarding the course of these negotiations. RAILWAYS & ROADS UNDER JAPANESE CONTROL. FORCE OF 80,000 TROOPS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) CHUNGKING, November 4. A military spokesman said, the Japanese have concentrated 80.000 troops throughout Indo-China but it was not clear whether they were planning to attack Thailand, Yunnan or Burma. However, some troops were being transferred to the Burma border, where the British were preparing defences. The spokesman said the Japanese had taken over French administrative organisations at Hanoi and completed occupation of all the railway and highway zones throughout Indo-China.