JAPANESE MASSING

Evening Star, Issue 23743, 26 November 1940, Page 7

JAPANESE MASSING

MANY DIVISIONS AT HANKOW GENERAL OFFENSIVE WESTWARD DEATH BLOW AIMED AT CHUNGKING Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LASHIO, November 25. (Received November 26, at 9.5 a.m.) A well-informed European authority, in a statement to the Press, said the Japanese were massing mechanised units, a chemical corps, also many divisions at Hankow in preparation for a general offensive westward. He said Japanese troops from Nanning, also heavy bombers from Hanoi, were concentrated at Hankow to assist a planned death blow to Chungking. MOBILISATION OF RESERVISTS SHANGHAI, November 25. (Received November 26, at 9.5 a.m.) Several hundred Japanese naval reservists have gone to Japan. The mobilisation affects reservists aged up to 52. DEMANDS ON INDO-GHINA CHUNGKING, November 25. The Central News Agency reports that the Japanese financial mission in Indo-China is demanding Japanese control of the Customs and a monopoly of rubber production and mineral resources. EVACUATIONS OF AMERICANS MANILA, November 25. (Received November 26, at 10 a.nt.) The President Washington sailed for Honolulu with 440 evacuees from Shanghai, 618 from Manila, and about 50 United States sailors and marines.

STRICT PRECAUTIONS AMERICAN NAVAL WORKMEN SEARCHED REPORT OF SABOTAGE BOSTON, November 25. (Received November 26, at 9.10 a.m.) Nearly 5,000 workmen were halted and searched when they arrived to work in the Boston navy yard this morning. The precautions were taken, according to Boston police officials, after navy yard officials had received information from an authoritative source that an attempt would be made by a workman to smuggle a time bomb or dynamite into the yard. One hundred special police and also marines helped the navy yard guards to search the men and their cars and clothing. IMPRISONED FOR ESPIONAGE AMERICAN ARMY OFFICER MANILA, November 25. ((Received November 26, at 9.10 a.m.) Captain ißufo Romero was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for photographing defence documents, presumably for a foreign Power. f A message received on October 18 stated: A United States army captain who graduated at West Point is held incommunicado on a charge of selling military information after long surveillance disclosing heavy gambling losses. It is understood that two accomplices are also being held.]

NAZI AIRBUTZ NIGHT AND DAY RAIDS WESTERN TOWN HEAVILY ATTACKED STEADY TOLL OF BOMBERS (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, November 25. (Received November 26, at 10.50 a.m.) Since dawn several enemy bombers, operating singly or in small formations, crossed the south-east and south coasts, states a communique, and one small formation reached the outskirts of the London area. A town on the coast of Kent was attacked shortly before noon. Several houses were damaged, but the casualties were very small. Bombs were also dropped on a town on the south coast and at two other

GENERAL PEACE MOVE EXPECTED BEFDRE CHRISTMAS " ENGLAND THE STUMBLING BLOCK " NEW YORK, November 25. (Received November 26, at 10.10 p.m.) “ American political circles believe that a general peace move is likely before Christmas. It is also understood that the Pope will make an important political speech shortly," declares the Paris correspondent of the ‘ New York Times.’ The newspaper ‘ L’Oeuvre ’ claims that the present diplomatic conversations in Europe are aimed at ending the war and reconstructing Europe. The meetings between Hitler, Marshal Petain, Laval, and Goering have laid the basis for Franco - German collaboration within the framework of a new Europe. “ However, England has remained the stumblfPig block, and nothing can be done without taking over Gibraltar as the key point of the British blockade," adds L’Oeuvre.

points in south-east England. There A Dornier was shot down into the was slight damage, but no casualties, sea off Dover this morning. A Spitfire pilot flying at 5,000 ft first saw the raider 7,000 ft above him. He climbed to attack and fired two short bursts, and climbing again, dived on him out of the sun. Pieces fell from the Dornier, which was last seen heading slowly for France and losing height. Night raiders, coming over singly, bombed a west of England town for several hours, causing casualties, some of which were fatal. Later they came over in waves and the damage was considerable, including hits on a home for aged people, a theatre, two churches, a cinema, and business premises. A lone raider exploded in mid-air -and crashed into the sea near Falmouth. Another went down in flames into the sea near the Isle of Wight. The raiders also hit a London A.R.P. centre, killing two persons and injuring another. Rescuers formed a human chain to extricate buried persons in a club. WEST OF ENGLAND TOWN ATTACKED BY 100 PLANES LONDON, November 25. (Received November 26, at noon.) Although last night’s raid on a West of England town was on a fairly heavy scale the enemy did not use as many planes as he did in the previous Midlands attack. It is estimated that probably , 100 bombers . participated. It is believed that the casualties were not so heavy considering the intensity of the raid. Rescuers are still searching in the ruins of buildings. A Home Counties town was bombed last night. Five bombs fell in an East Anglian town and demolished houses and shops. TOIL OF NIGHT RAIDERS SATISFACTORY FIGURES (British Official Wireless.) (RUGBY, November 25. (Received November 26, at noon.) A third enemy bomber raiding Britain was destroyed last night in addition to the two previously reported as brought down. The total night raiders brought down so far this month, up to dawn on November 25, was 28—two more than in the whole of October and three more than in the whole of September. The results so far this month, compared with September and October, are even more favourable than the figures suggest, for the number of raiders sent over during darkness during the last three weeks seldom equalled the strength of the attacks in the two preceding months. SYRIA AND LEBANON NEW FRENCH HIGH COMMISSIONER VICHY 7 . November 25. (Received November 26, at 1.10 p.m.) It is officially stated that M. Chiappe, former Police Prefect in Paris, has been appointed High Commissioner in Syria and Lebanon.,