ATTEMPT TO KILL GEN BLAMEY

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 232, 28 June 1945, Page 7

ATTEMPT TO KILL GEN BLAMEY

Japanese Plan Frustrated

(Received June 27, 9.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 27.

Au enemy attempt on the life of the Australian Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Thomas Blarney, and senior officers of the A.I.F. Ninth Division was frustrated near divisional - headquarters on Borneo on Sunday night. Two Japanese armed with swords, pistols and grenades were killed in the jungle only 20 feet from the beadquarters. Firing broke out along a nearby beach while General Blarney was conferring with the Ninth Division’s commander, Major-General Wootten, and other senior officers. A small enemy party attempting tn infiltrate into the headquarters, .area was sighted by members of the divisional guard battalion. An intensive hunt through the jungle area fringing the G.O.C.’s tent resulted in the killing of the Japanese. GENERAL LECLERC TO COMMAND French Eastern Force LONDON, June 26. General Leclerc has been chosen to command the French Far East Expeditionary Force, which will be placed at the disposal of the United States Paci fie Forces, says the correspondent of “The Times” in Paris. Discussions are continuing between the French National Defence Staff and the Combined Chiefs of Staff Committee in Washington on the manner in which the French will be used.

General Leclerc led .the Free French forces that assisted the Eighth Army in North Africa, and later commanded a corps of the French First Army in the Alsace campaign. He was credited with the capture of Strasbourg.