BRUSH ON BORDER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20414, 26 November 1940, Page 7

BRUSH ON BORDER

SIAMESE TROOPS FRENCH INDO-CHINA DEMANDS OF JAPANESE CONTROL OF CUSTOMS RUBBER AND MINERALS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 26, 10.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, Nov. 25. The Hanoi correspondent of the Havas news agency states it is officially announced that a border incident occurred on the Thailand frontier on Saturday night. It is stated that Siamese troops attempted to cross a border creek near Popet. The Siamese retreated following the exchange of a few shots. Several native police and guards were killed or wounded on Friday night in several villages' west and north of Saigon when gangs of armed bandits attacked isolated police stations and several local administration offices in the Vunglien, Tambinh and Canglong districts. The'military authorities took “strong action” in restoring order. A number of the ringleaders were arrested. News Agencies Censored Apparently all news agencies except the Domei and Havas have been censored in the past 48 hours from IndoChina. A Bangkok message states that the Siamese police issued an order prohibiting the publication of details of activities of the armed forces, especially in the border regions in view of the “increasing seriousness” of the present crisis. A Chungking message quotes the Central news agency which reports that the Japanese financial mission in Indo-China is demanding Japanese control of customs and a monopoly of rubber production and mineral resources. Communists Accused The Hanoi correspondent of the Domei news agency, in a message to Hong Kong, says that guards captured armed Armamese who were attempting to create a riot when they surrounded the Indo-Chinese garrisons at Saigon on Friday. The Government of French Indo-China is reported to have said that Communists were responsible. A message quotes a well-informed European authority as stating that the Japanese are massing mechanised units and chemical corps and also many divisions at Hankow in preparation for a general offensive westward. It was said that Japanese troops from Nanning and also heavy bombers from Hanoi were concentrated at Hankow to assist in a planned death blow to Chungking. Several hundred Japanese naval reservists have gone from Shanghai to Japan. The mobilisation affects reservists aged up to 52 years'. ~"