MOVE AGAINST RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23412, 20 August 1941, Page 7

MOVE AGAINST RUSSIA

CHINESE OPINION OP JAPAN’S PLANS

ATTACK AT VLADIVOSTOK THOUGHT LIKELY

(Received August 19, 11 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, August 19. The Chinese are convinced that the threat of a Japanese move against Thailand is intended to preoccupy the democracies while Japan prepares for an attack on Russia at Vladivostok, according' to the Hong Kong correspondent of “The Times.” The Shanghai representative of the “Daily Mail” quotes reports from Tokyo that the greatest assembly of transport ever seen is gathering for Korea and Dairen.

A warning that if Russian-Japanese relations get worse the Kremlin alone will be responsible is given by the Tokyo newspaper “Hochi Hochi." The newspaper adds; “Japan cannot remain indifferent to reports that Moscow has agreed to pool war materials with the anti-Axis Powers, because Russia is aware that Japan’s efforts to settle the China affair are being delayed by British and American obstruction.”

The "Nichi Nichi” warns the Soviet to reject the Moscow three-Power conference, which would mean further encirclement of Japan.

\ The spokesman at the Japanese Cabinet’s Information Bureau (Mr Ishii) to-day commented on the sailing of a United States tanker with petrol for Vladivostok. He said Japan wanted peace in the Pacific, but could not remain indifferent if war supplies were sent to Russia by way of Vladivostok. The Tokyo correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that reliable indications are that the Russian Far Eastern Army strength has been fully mobilised and stationed on the Siberian border.

A broadcast from Tokyo picked up by the Columbia broadcasting system said that the Chungking. Government was preparing to build 14 airfields for the use of Britain, the United States, and Russia.

RAGING FIRE ON WATERFRONT OUTBREAK FOLLOWS

EXPLOSION

SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE OF SABOTAGE

(Received August 19, 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 19.

A terrific explosion touched off a raging fire on the Brooklyn waterfront to-day, destroying a 1000-foot pier used by British ships to load supplies and the Italian ship Panuco, which the Mexican Government had seized. It is, known that some 80 men are dead, injured, or missing. Fire boats, pqlice launches, and coastguard cutters rescued 28 survivors from the water. Two longshoremen w r ere drowned when they jumped from the Panuco, which was on fire from stem to stern. Site drifted down the bay and ,was eventually beached. It is feared that there are many victims on board the vessel.

Fire-boats, 26 fire brigades, and 300 firemen fought the fire, which destroyed much valuable property. Numerous explosions occurred while the fire raged. Federal authorities have begun a search for evidence of sabotage.

MR FRASER IN LONDON

VISIT TO PACKING CENTRE

LONDON, August 18. • The Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Rt. Hon. P. Frasfer) visited the main London packing centre for food parcels for British prisoners of war. He saw some 72,000 Christmas parcels being wrapped artd dispatched, Mr Fraser met Mrs Beamish, a sister-in-law of Rear-Admiral T. P. H. Beamish. Mrs Beamish’s son is a prisoner of war in Germany, and her daughter, Miss Helen H. Beamish, is a teacher at St. Hilda’s Collegiate School, Dunedin. Mr Fraser made a note of'her address and said: “I shall get in touch with her.” Mr Fraser also inspected a group of Red Cross and St. John ambulances, Including a flying column, a mobile first-aid van, a mobile kitchen, and a food and stores van. CABLE MESSAGES IN BRIEF Well-known Mathematician Dead.— The death has occurred of Mr Charles Pendlebury, whose name is familiar to many generations of schoolboys throughout the Empire for his text books on mathematics. He was secretary of the Mathematical Association from 1886 to 1936, and senior mathematical master of St. Paul’s School from 1877 to 1910. He was 87 years of age.—London. August 18. Reichsmarshal Goering.—Europe, during the last two months has been flooded, with stories about Reichsmarshal Goering, of which probably the most curious to reach London is that Reichshmarshal Goering is reported to have lost both legs when the Royal Air Force recently attacked a German aerodrome. British officers arriving at Cairo, after their release under the Syrian armistice, declared that they heard the report from various places when returning across Europe from France.—London, August 18.

Nazis Execute Dutchmen.—A message from Berlin states that General Christiansen, the German commander of the forces occupying Holland, has announced that a court-martial passed sentence of death on five Dutch citizens for aiding six members of the crew of a British bomber to escape. The bomber was forced down in Holland on August 8, and the airmen were captured the same day. They were found wearing civilian clothes and carrying money and food.—London, August 18. Beaufort’s Record Flight,—An Aus-tralian-Assembled Bristol Beaufort bomber yesterday flew from Cairns, North Queensland, to Melbourne, a distance of 1500 miles, in 7 hours 45 minutes. This is the longest and fastest flight ever made in Australia.—Melbourne, August 19. Extension of U.S. Army Service.— Mr Robsfevelt has signed the bill asserting that , the national interest is imperilled and authorising the retention of national guardsmen, reservists, and army men 18 months beyond the regular terras of service.—Washington, August 19.

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