INDO-CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1940, Page 5

INDO-CHINA

NEW FIGHTING BREAKS OUT ON THE BORDER (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) HANOI, December 9. Serious lighting has broken out on the northern Luos frontier. Both sides are machine-gunning and bombing. LONDON, December 9. At Savannakliet Dag, French 75millimetre guns blazed into action at 7.45 a.m. to-day, hurling over 30 shells across the Mekong River. It is understood their target was a Thai airport. The Siamese force replied to the French. Savannakliet was swept with machine-gun and small artillery fire. A United Press correspondent reports lie spotted a battery of 105 howitzers on the Thai bank of the Mekong River. It is reliably reported that French ’planes carried out reprisals at dawn, following on the bombing yesterday of Vientiane. BANGKOK, December 9. • The Siamese report of the Thailand High Command said that French forces fired on Thai forces in the Aranya, Mongkai, and Prnchinburi sectors on Friday and Saturday, and that Tlnu forces returned the tlnu The report said that six French launches from Vienchandra fired on two villages on the Thai side of the Mekong River. Thai ’planes forced the launches to retreat. THE FRENCH REPORT HANOI, December 9. An official French communique states: “Early on Sunday in an unprovoked attack, Thailand troops machinegunned the French side ot the Mekong River, at Vientiane. We replied. There were no casualties on our side. At 8.10 a.m., the shooting was resumed. In the afternoon, a. Thai ’plane flew over Vientiane. No bombs were dropped. At 5 a.i11., Thai light bombers and ope fighter dropped ten bombs on \ ientiano, injuring a civilian, burning a house, and destroying two huts. > The French authorities during the past three months have shown sufficient cold-bloodedness and willingness to negotiate. However, they could not tolerate this. This morning a French ’plane dropped 22 bombs on Lakhoip m Thailand, south-west of Vientiane.” FRENCH DEFIED HANOI, December 8. An eye-witness said that the Frendu Custom's officers at Haiphong, on Saturday, attempted to prevent an illegal landing of Japanese artillery, for which there was no provision under the present, agreements. The Japanese drew revolvers and continued to unload.