THAILAND NERVOUS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 291, 13 November 1941, Page 8

THAILAND NERVOUS

“BE PREPARED FOR WAR.’’

FEAR OF JAPANESE ACTION. (United Press Association —Copyright) (12.25 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Nov. 12. Thai nervousness, which has been clearly observed at Bangkok during the past few weeks, came to a head last night when the official Bangkok radio commentator called on Thailanders to be prepared for war. Declaring that Thailand would be in the war this year or next, he urged heroic resistance.

Observers say that Thai fears arc obviously tied up with the fact that the rains .now. have ceased and in a few more weeks the country will be in a condition most favourable lor invasion. Despite reports of large Japanese forces in indo-China .observers do not believe the Japanese strength there is sufficient fot a land attack against Thailand. They believe the Japanese technique for the domination of Thailand is likely to be an ultimatum followed by an air blitz, in the hope of breaking the nerves of the Thai Government, and aided by Fifth Column activities, obtaining an easy capitulation to enable Japanese protection rather than the hard road of a military conquest. A Manila message states that substantial reinforcements of American long-range submarines have arrived in the Philippines. The combined American and. Dutch submarine strength in the South-West Pacific at present is stronger than at any stage in the Far Eastern tension.