BANGKOK BOMBED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 48, 26 January 1942, Page 6

BANGKOK BOMBED

HEAVY H.A.F. OFFENSIVE. (Rec. 1.50 p.m.) RANGOON, Jan. 25. A heavy force of R.A.fi. bombeis mad© a low-level attack on Bangkok last night, inflicting widespread damage The power house received a direct hit. All the planes returned. I ollowiim the attack the Berlin News Agency' quoted a Bangkok announcement that Thailand had declared war on Britain and the United States. A Chungking message says that when 70 Chinese bombers again attacked the Japanese air base at Hanoi, dropping 200 bombs, they caused much destruction. No planes were lost. A Rangoon communique reports that new prearranged positions on the Moulmein front have been taken up by the British forces without interference. The enemy was thrown back m the initial stages of liis attack, but continued to advance by sheer weight of numbers. Successful demolition work was carried out before the delenders retired. . Chinese reinforcements have been pouring into Burma in the last few weeks. Chinese despatches say mass movements of Chinese troops are taking place in Yunnan and along the Thailand border. A Chungking communique reports violent Chinese attacks on a Japanese base and railway junction along the Peking-Hankow railway. The Japanese supply lines in this area have been cut. The Associated Press Rangoon correspondent states that survivors from two merchantmen sunk in the Bay ot Bengal, probably by a Japanese submarine, have been landed at a Burmese port.