IN THE FAR EAST

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1940, Page 5

IN THE FAR EAST

U.S.A. FLEET DETACHMENT FOR MANILA. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) WASHINGTON, December 9. The departure of at least a portion of the United States Fleet, possibly a submarine and destroyers, to Manila, from Honolulu, is reported to be imminent. United States Naval strategists have lately been urging that the American Fleet needs a Far Eastern base, if the naval policy is to remain abreast of America’s foreign policy in the Pacific. NANKING GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE NEW CURRENCY SHANGHAI, December 9. The Nanking regime, which has been recognised by Japan, is issuing its own currency as from January 15th. It will, however, continue to recognise the Chungking Government notes for a certain period, after which Chungking notes will bo exchanged at par for Nanking notes, and the Chungking notes will then be declared valueless in Japanese occupied territory. JAPAN’S WAR ESTIMATES TOKIO, December 10. Japan’s total Budget under general accounts, including the expenditure for the China War for the fiscal year 194142 is expected to exceed 11,000 million yen. The Minister of Finance has examined the estimates of various Ministries, and the Cabinet Council is discussing the Budget to-morrow. CHOLERA SPREADING IN CHINA ’ SHANGHAI, December 10. Missionary sources report an appeal for serum from Ivinkwa, Chekiang, where bubonic plague is raging. Hundreds are dead. The plague originated at Ningpo, where scores of houses were burned in an effort to check it. It is said that the Japanese bombing of Kinkwa, recently, worsened the situation. JAPANESE SOUTHWARD POLICY CHUNGKING, December 10. There aro feverish military preparations going on in the island of Formosa, and at Amoy, following the appointment of tho new .GovernorGeneral of Formosa, General N. Kajima Yasutune, who is regarded as an influential member of the Japanese younger officers clique, and also as the staunch advocate of a southward expansion programme. The report adds that among new measures adopted is tho organisation of a “South Asia Surveying Corps,” comprising 400 Japanese “Ronin,” or trouble-makers, in-different parts of the Straits Settlements and tho South Seas, who are stated to be divided into ten groups, for the purpose of collecting information.