IN THE FAR-EAST

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1940, Page 5

IN THE FAR-EAST

PART OF SHANGHAI

BLOCKADED BY JAPANESE,

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

SHANGHAI, Dec. 3.

A Japanese blockade of the Japan-ese-controlled area, of Shanghai followed the murder of another Japanese gendarme at the' week-end by a Chinese gunman. The blockade has entered its third day. The barricaded area now resembles a besieged city, and the spectre of famine hovers over thousands of Chinese in this marooned area, as little fresh food is allowed to enter. Meanwhile, the Japanese are conductipg a house-to-house search.

SIAMESE CLAIMS.

NEW YORK, Dec. 3.

The Bangkok correspondent of the Associated Press of America says: The Thailand High Command announced that a French effort to seize the south-eastern, province of Thad was beaten off. A French warship was damaged from the air. A detachment of French troop? landed a few miles from the Thai frontier, and proceeded inland a short distance before being repulsed. A second landing party was repulsed with heavy casualties.

On .the north-eastern front, near Ngaorbanom, Thai aviation carried out retaliatory raids, wrecking the French military headquarters.

AUSTRALIA AND U.S.A.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3. The Australian Minister, Mr R. G. Casey, conferred with Senator Hull » (U.S. Secretary of State), on the situation in the Mr Casey said: “We exchanged some mutually satisfactory observations.”

JAPANESE FEELING.

LONDON, Dec. - 3.

Feeling against America is being whipped up in. Japan following ■ the announcement of the United States loan of 100,000,000 dollars to China. The Tokyo newspaper “Kokumin” said that relations between Japan and the United States were now jso seriously strained that there was no rooifi. for wishful thinking. 1

In Ankara it is - stated that the terms of the pact between Japan and Mr Wang Ching-wei are definitely against Russia. v . , In spite of her • pact with-Japan and in spitesAOf dapanhs recogmtaoQMiOf thpua puppet government in China, Benin is still maintaining diplomatic relations with the Chungking Government, according to American reports from Berlin. No comment has been made in Berlin on the recognition of the pup- - pet government, and the German atti- - tude is said to have left Tokyo speechless.

THAILAND CLAIM

(Received this day at 11.30 a.m.)

BANGKOK, December 4

The High Command has issued a, communique stating Thailand antiaircraft batteries scored Several hits on an armoured French transport attempting to land troops on the Thai-: land side of Melthong, near Hongkai, on Monday afternoon. It said the transport attempted to escape, but . stalled in midstream. Anti-aircraft guns again fired on the vessel in the morning causing an explosion. It is understood many French soldiers aboard were killed or injured.