COUP d'ETAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 309, 30 December 1940, Page 8

COUP d'ETAT.

JAPANESE PLAN? Simultaneous Moves In S«am And Indo-China. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Reed. 3 p.m.) HOKGKOXG, Dec. 29. Authoritative reports from Hanoi allege that a Japanese plan has been disclosed for a eoup d'etat in Thailand, coincidental -with increased Japanese pressure for bases in Southern Indo-China.

Four Japanese en route to Bangkok on a goodwill mission have been instructed to organise a coup d'etat through the Thai Army, which received 3o pursuit planes and —•> bombers from Japan early in December.

The Bangkok Maru is reported to be en route to Ba nark ok with 950 tons of munitions and jruns. Another ship is sailing from Japan shortlv, carrvins tanks.

Japanese "tourists" in southern IndoChina are increasing rapidly, and seek to ]>enetrate French military zones in Cambodia and Laos.

A from Bangkok says large>cale hostilities have flared up on the Indo-China frontier. The Thai High Command declared that the French repeated after two clashes, leavinsr arms and ammunition.

BASE IN CANARY ISLANDS.

FRANCO'S DECISION. (Reed. 2.30 p.m.) MADRID. Dec. 29. General Franco lias issued a decree providing for the expropriation and acquisition of territorv at Las Palmas, in the Canary Islands.* for the construction of a large artillerv base.

BRAVERY RECOGNISED.

SYDNEY'S FEAT RECALLED. British Official Wireless." RUGBY, Dec. 29. Aw aids announced in the London Oazette include three George Medals and two Bntisli Empire Medals—one to Mi?# •Nina Marsh, of the Women's Koval -Naval Service. For gallant and successful service in destroying the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo C'olleoni. two officers f. om tlie Australian cruiser Svdnev crain 0 D -? 0. and two the D.S.C.". while" six ratings are awarded the D.S.M. Four D.S.C.'s and six D.S.M.V are awarded for courage and continuous servicer; in the Channel mobile balloon barrage. two D.S.C.'s and six D.C.M.s for sep ices in action against an enemy raider, and one D.S.M. for courage and devotion to duty in the first Battle of Narvik.

GIFT FROM SYDNEY.

British Official Wireless. (Heed. 10 a.m.) RUGBY. Dec. 20. s Christmas Eve pre-ent to Briti-li school children. £2000 was -cut l>y school children in Sydney. Australia, to the Lord Mayor of London'-; Air Raid Distress lund. whiih n»w totals £1 .sris.ooo.

air crash in japan

TOKYO. Dee. 29. The Aviation Bureau's inspector, Mr. Sh'.kasaburo Yaniakawa, and 12 other members of the staff were killed when a Japan Airways Company aeroplane ■which they were testing crashed into the-Pacific Ocean off Tokyo.