FAR EAST

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1940, Page 8

FAR EAST

JAPAN AND THAILAND

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.']

LONDON, December 29.

Large scale hostilities have flared up on the Indo-China frontier, says a message from Bangkok. The Thai High Command declares that the French retreated after two clashes, leaving arms and ammunition. Authoritative quarters in Hanoi allege that a Japanese plan has been disclosed for a coup d’etat in Thailand, to coincide with increased Japanese pressure for bases in southern Indo-China. Four Japanese who are going to Bangkok on a goodwill mission have been instructed to organise a coup d’etat through the Thai Army, which received pursuit aeroplanes and bombers from Japan early in December. The liner Bangkok Maru is reported to be en route for Bangkok with 950 tons of munitions and guns. Another ship is sailing from Japan shortly, carrying tanks. The number of Japanese “tourists” in southern Indo-China is increasing rapidly, and they are seeking to penetrate the French military zones in Cambodia and Laos. .

NAURU RAIDER.

TOKIO, December 30.

“Billy” Hughes is enjoying an Axis boom.. The Domei News Agency quotes the official German news as noting with approval, Mr. Hughes’ statement that the Nauru raider hoisted the German flag before the bombardment.

The Germans say that Mr. Hughes has “definitely refuted the reports attributable to enemy propaganda that the raider was flying a friendly nation’s flag. German warships, of course, carry out their duties against the enemy under the German flag.”