THAIS PREPARE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20633, 8 December 1941, Page 5

THAIS PREPARE

POSSIBLE CONFLICT TRANSFER OF CAPITAL EMERGENCY MEASURES (Reed. Dec. 8, 9 a.m.) SINGAPORE, Dec. 7. An official communique issued in Singapore to-day states that all indications point to Japan taking the fatal step to war and striking a weak neighbour, Thailand, using Indo-China as a base of operations. Though the communique does not mention the nationality of the ships, there is little doubt that Japanese vessels are moving in the direction of Thailand on the direct shipping route from Saigon to Bangkok. The communique adds: “Air reconnaissance in the South China Sea which has been in progress for several days has confirmed previous reports of considerable shipping activity and movement of ' naval vessels, including cruisers. This movement is now round Cambodia Point and thence in a northwesterly direction. Our reconnaissance was well carried out by Catalina flying boats of the Royal Air Force and by Hudsons. An interesting feature is the contact by aircraft from Malaya made at a distance of over 300 miles.” The Thailand Ministry of the Interior at Bangkok yesterday intimated that plans were completed for the Government to transfer the capital from Bangkok elsewhere in the event of an outbreak of war.

The Bangkok correspondent of the Domei agency says the Thailand Assembly approved of emergency measures placing Thailand on a war footing, including anti-espionage, food storage and labour.