JAPANESE DRIVE INDICATED

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23805, 26 November 1942, Page 5

JAPANESE DRIVE INDICATED

THREAT TO YUNNAN PREPARATIONS IN BURMA AND INDO CHINA (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING. Nov. 24. The Chungking correspondent of the Associated Press of America reports that a Chinese Army spokesman said there were increasing signs of a major Japanese drive into Yunnan Province. The Japanese preparations included a concentration of amphibian tanks along the Salween river, and a steady stream of reinforcements arriving in Indo-China. The spokesman said the Japanese had. two divisions in Thailand, one in Indo-China, and six in Burma. All railroad traffic in Indo-China was confined to Japanese troop movements. . . . „ The Japanese at present were bringing pressure dfi the French to yield police rights to the Japanese. Warships had arrived in Kwangchow Bay. “All these things," the spokesman continued, “lead us to that the enemy has a major move in mind. Japanese air strength throughout Indo-China and Burma has been increased. At Saigon alone there are more than 300 aeroplanes.” A “Central News” correspondent has reported that two Japanese aeroplanes were shot down at Kweilin on Monday. Four Japanese airmen parachuted, of whom one was captured, one killed, and two escaped.

BRITAIN DETERMINED. TO DEFEAT JAPAN

STATEMENT MADE IN CHUNGKING (Rec. 10 p.n).) CHUNGKING, Nov. 24. “Britain will continue the war until Japan has been defeated and occupied, or has unconditionally surrendered,” said Mr H. J. Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, M.P., on behalf of the British Parliamentary Mission to Chungking. He told a press conference that it was merely a strategic and technical matter whether Germany or Japan was defeated first, but there was no doubt in the minds of the British people that both must be defeated thoroughly, “Britain will not tolerate a negotiated peace,” he said. “Without occupation, the punishment of war criminals is out of the question. We must gain complete victory through the forceful destruction of aggression." Mr T. V. Soong has.announced that he is going to London at the invitation of the British Government, and then to Washington.

RAID ON JAPAN IN APRIL

USE OF CARRIER PLANES INDICATED (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) CHICAGO. Nov. 24. A book just published by a correspondent of the Chicago “Daily News,” ‘ Mr Robert Casey, indicates that the American aeroplanes which raided Japan on April 18 were carrier-based. At the time, Mr Casey’s whereabouts were secret. ' His own office knew only* that he was with the Fleet. In his book, “Torpedo Junction,” Mr Casey’s diary for April 18 reads: “North of Marcus Island. Cold!, 75-mile gale blowing. Rough. Carrier sending up a lot of aeroplanes, in spite of weather. I, do not know what that proves, except that an aeroplane will actually fiy in this soup. 2.30 p.m.: Tokyo radio announced air raid. Excuse us, please,’ for wondering if our journey up here might be synchronised to this rhxd. 9.0 p.m.: We are turning eastwards, and What do you make of that?” v --- “

IN NORTH ATLANTIC

“SITUATION STILL VERY GRAVE ” (Rec. 1.15 a.m.) LONDON. Nov. 25. The Canadian Navy Minister (Mr Angus Mac Donald) announced that 20 United Nations merchantmen had been sunk since January 1 this year in the St. Lawrence river and gulf, ' and adjacent waters. Mr Mac Donald said the submarine situation in the North Atlantic was still very grave. In spite of the enemy submarine activity at Gibraltar there was still a heavy submarine concentration on the Atlantic convoy routes. Asked whether enemy submarines had landed men along the St. Lawrence, Mr Mac Donald replied that it was quite possible that a few persons had been landed in remote areas with a view to sabotage. , He announced that 17 Canadian corvettes had participated in the current North African and West African campaigns. LIMBI®*' ,__,

DESTRUCTION IN RAID ON COLOGNE

LONDON. Nov. 24. “The British raid on Cologne did more damage than the San Francisco earthquake and fire,” declared Air Commodore Thornton, the British air attache in Washington. “The raid destroyed or damaged 250 war factories, destroyed 20,000 buildings, and damaged 20,000. We do not call a building destroyed until it is possible to see from the roof to the cellar. “We have every reason to believe that the German industrial cities have been greatly damaged, thus weakening the German army. The victorious Libyan operation is another example of air superiority.”

NEW SEABORNE SPITFIRE

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, Nov. 24. Pictures of the latest British seaborne Spitfire adapted for use from aircraft-carriers have now been published. Large numbers of these “Seafires” helped to protect the Allied warships, troops, and supplies reaching North Africa until aerodromes from which land-based fighters could operate were captured.' Such Spitfire fighters add materially to the defence of convoys steaming beyond the range of shore-based fighters. Carrier-borne ‘aircraft hitherto have been handicapped by a necessary low landing speed, but the “Seafire” has a special arresting hook.

FALANGIST COUNCIL

MADRID. Nov. 24. General Franco has appointed 95 members of the Third Falangist National Council after the expiration of the Second Council’s term. Senor Suner, who test his position as Foreign Minister last September, has been reappointed a member of the new council Bishop of Jerusalem Killed.—The Rt. Rev. G. F. Graham Brown, Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem since' 1932, I s been killed in a motor accident 'in northern Palestine. His car crashed into a railway level crossing.—Rugby, November 24.