JAPANESE ADVANCE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21227, 25 September 1940, Page 8

JAPANESE ADVANCE

IN INDOCHINA

SHELLING AND BOMBING FRENCH TROOPS KILLED (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 24 An official joint communique issued in Tokio by the Japanese Army and Navy yesterday morning stated that units of the army and navy had started a “peaceful advance” through Indo-China. Fighting was still progressing this morning, however, says a report from Hongkong. Two Japanese aeroplanes were shot down. French women and children are being evacuated from the border areas. The Japanese yesterday made two daylight air raids on the strategic railway and border town of Langson, says a Hanoi despatch. They also resumed shelling. In the afternoon six Japanese aeroplanes twice concentrated their bombs on the Langson airport and market place, and Fighting took place at Langson all the afternoon. The French announced that the Indo-Chinese had abandoned Dongdang. The Japanese aeroplanes which bombed Langson were apparently operating from an aircraft-carrier. A hospital train from the border arrived at Hanoi carrying over 100 wounded. Red Cross stations have been established throughout the city in view of the emergency. The army has commandeered motor-cars. Another report said the head of the Japanese mission, Lieutenant-General Nishihara, was delaying tne carrying out of the agreement with France and had postponed the landing of troops at Haiphong. A representative of the Domei agency with the army in South China reports that the Japanese captured 240 Indo-China troops, including several French officers, when they occupied a blockhouse near Dongdang. He states that the French losses were 131 killed and the Japanese losses were “ very slgiht.”

PACT SIGNED

FRANCE AND JAPAN BASES IN INDO-CHINA (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 24 The French Foreign Minister, M. Baudouin, said France was granting Japan air bases in Indo-China, also the right of passage for 6000 troops, states a message from Vichy. He said this was not an offensive action against China, but was to cover a possible evacuation by the Japanese from Canton. France and Japan had signed a military agreement and a commercial agreement was being negotiated. Japan would receive economic preference over all Powers, said M. Baudouin. He added: “France hopes that the signature of the pact, in which she recognises Japan’s dominating political and economic interests in the Far East, will prove the beginning of a loyal Franco-Japanese entente.” The Axis had not exerted pressure to secure the French acceptance of the Japanese demands, he said. France agreed to make the concessions when Mr Cordell Hull, United States Secretary of State, told her that the United States realised the necessity of her doing so. According to a message from Hanoi French circles there said the agreement did not provide for the Canton army’s entry into IndoChina, although it was admitted that the French agreed to discuss the question in the future. Commenting on Tokio’s announcement of peaceful and friendly entry into Indo-China, French officials said: “Anyone coming across the border in the middle of the night, in combat formation and using arms, is hardly friendly.” Denial By America The United States State Department categorically denies M. Baudouin’s statement that the United States approved the French concessions to Japan in Indo-China. A spokesman said:— “This Government has not ac any time or in any way approved the French concessions to Japan. The attitude of this Government to developments in Indo-China is as expressed by Mr Hull today and previously.”

NO INTERFERENCE

DETERMINATION OF JAPAN THIRD POWERS WARNED (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlgnt) TOKIO, Sept. 24 The Tokio newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun says the Japanese Government will reject unhesitatingly any protest by a third country against Japan’s entry into Indo-China, because Japan’s intentions are “ extremely peaceful and constructive.” Moreover, says the paper, the action has been taken with the full understanding of the French Government. It adds that some of the third Powers which interfered in the negotiations from the outset are already showing a threatening attitude and contending that the entry of the Japanese troops is an improper military action.

The British Minister of War, Mr Anthony Eden, spent the past week visiting units of the Home Guard in the London area and saw a complete battalion of the Home Guard at military exercises. He was highly gratified by all he saw.

AGREEMENT CANCELLED

FRANCE AND JAPAN DONGDANG RECAPTURED MAJOR ATTACK POSSIBLE (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 25, 3.15 p.m.) HANOI, Sept. 24 The French have recaptured Dongdsng. It is reported that the French are making a determined stand at Langson. The French artillery are shelling from strong fortifications and are taking a heavy toll of the Japanese, whose bodies are piled high along the roads outside Langson. The Japanese announced the launching of a major attack on September 25, including the bombing of Haiphong. The Japanese appear to be attacking independently. Lieutenant-General Nishihara, who sailed from Haiphong for Hainan, is reported to be attempting to persuade General Ando, commanding the Japanese Army in South China, to delay the attack. Lieutenant-General Nishihara encountered a Japanese invasion fleet of eight transports, one cruiser and three destroyers, en route to Haiphong. He is reported to have asked the fleet commander to defer the attempt at a landing. The schools at Haiphong have been closed. Trains are evacuating civilians.

The French-Japanese agreement which was signed on September 22 has been cancelled.

PROTEST BY BRITAIN

DETENTION OF SHIPS SHELLED BY JAPANESE (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SHANGHAI, Sept. 23 Three British ships have been detained in China coast waters by the Japanese. They are the Jessie Moller, Edith Moller and Kongso. It was stated at the British Embassy that the Japanese had not yet replied to the British representations requesting an explanation of the incident when the Japanese shelled and detained the British vessel Marie Moller last Friday. FRANCE RESPONSIBLE CHINA GOVERNMENT PROTESTS TIME FOR AMERICAN ACTION (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 25, 3.15 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Sept. 24 The Chinese Cabinet is understood to have protested to France that it will hold France responsible for any losses or damage incurred as a result of the Indo-China agreement. Mr Takun Pao said: “French realism is synonymous with surrender. The time has arrived for America to adopt effective action in the Western Pacific, and replace her empty words, which are useless.”

CHINA PREPARED

MARTIAL LAW PROCLAIMED TJtOOPS ALONG BORDER (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 24 It is understood that the Chinese have proclaimed martial law throughout the provinces of Yunnan and Kwangsi, which border on IndoChina. “China had plenty of time to prepare for this eventuality, and our actions will proceed according to a pre-arranged plan,” said a Chinese spokesman in Chungking, commenting on the Franco-Japanese agreement. The spokesman estimated that 200.000 Chinese were massed along the border ready to resist any Japanese advance toward Kunming on a laree scale.

The destruction of all communication facilities on the border is progressing. Whole sections of the Indo-China railway inside Chinese territory are being removed.

The evacuation of the Chinese population and Government institutions in Kunming is being speeded up, as it is feared that the Japanese shortly will resort to severe aerial bombardment of the ill-defended city from their newly-acquired air bases.

The influential Chinese newspaper Ta Kung-pao states that Chinese military preparations have been completed and troops are awaiting orders to fight the Japanese in Indo-China. COMMON PROSPERITY JAPAN, MANCHUKUO, CHINA GREATER EAST ASIA (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 25. 3.15 p.m.) TOKIO, Sept. 24 The Cabinet has approved of a long planning scheme involving Japan, Manchukuo and China, aiming at the development of the highest state defence system and the establishment of the widely-heralded Greater East Asia common prosperity Sp 1 '

The plan schedules the decentralisation oi industries to fit varied local, natural and other conditions.