EARLIER NEWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1941, Page 5

EARLIER NEWS

MESSAGE TO JAPANESE EMPEROR I DISPATCHED BY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT. i APPEAL OVER THE HEADS OF CABINET. ,LONDON, December 6. The Washington State Department announced that President Roosevelt has sent a message to the Japanese Emperor. The State Deartment has not disclosed the contents of the message, but authoritative quarters describe it as an appeal to the Emperor over the heads of Cabinet to prevent a general Far Eastern explosion. The State Department says that convoys were seen this morning at a south-east point off Decameau, the southernmost point in Indo-China. It is J estimated that 82,000 Japanese troops |WI are in south Indo-China, 25,000 in the north and 18,000 on 21 transports in Camranh Bay, south-east Indo-China. The State Department reports that f the deployment of Japanese troops is such that they could be used to attack , Thailand by land or- sea. Information Ik does not indicate that attack is under way, but suggests that troops are placed in a position from which they could r start to attack if the order were given, ■jh The State Department also announces Hl that reports indicate that a total of

125,000 Japanese troops are concentrated in Indo-China and two large heavily escorted Japanese convoys are steaming toward the Gulf of Siam. A message from Singapore states that Catalina flying-boats on patrol have sighted Japanese warships steaming due north into the Gulf of Siam (between Malaya and Indo-China). These warships were more than 300 miles from their base. The Associated Press of Great Britain says that the immediate evacuation of all non-essential civilians from Manila was requested today.