STOP PRESS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23414, 22 August 1941, Page 1

STOP PRESS

JAPANESE MASS TROOPS LONDON, August 21. While crack Chinese troops continue to concentrate on the Indo-China border, the Japanese are massing near northern IndoChina, says the Hong Kong correspondent of the ‘‘New York Times.” It is believed that they intend -to launch a large-scale drive toward.the Burma Road as soon as their armies in soiithehi , Indo-China have consolidated their positions. Their intensive bombing, of Kunming and. other places is regarded as confirmation of this plan. GERMAN REQUEST TO TURKEY NEW YORK, August 21. It is reported here that Germany is trying to force Turkey to open the Dardanelles, while Britain and Russia are urging hqr to' keep, them' closed. Both Germany and Italy want to send warships through the straits into the Black Sea. The .Germans have asked Ankara for permission to, send in “auxiliary” vessels. Turkey is. understood to take the view that if she gives permissidn it must not be a precedent . fof the passage, of other vessels, including warships. - Foreign sources report , a sepret arrangement, by which eight Italian' destroyers will be sent as a “gift” to ' Bulgaria, ; which is entitled, to • have warships in the Blacjj Sea, and so evade the JVlontfelix ; Convention. '