Will Britain Try To Forestall Japan?

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 186, 7 August 1941, Page 7

Will Britain Try To Forestall Japan?

.POSSIBLE MOVE INTO KEY POINTS IN THAILAND LONDON, Aug. 5. Heightened by the arrival of large reinforcements of British, Imperial and Indian troops, reports of Britain's state of military preparedness in and about Malaya reached a new high level to-day and the belief grew in informed circles that the British were preparing for swift moves to control Key points in Thailand, possibly forestalling open Japanese encroachment, says the Manila correspondent of the. Associated Press of America. Many Japanese heavy bombers arrived to-day at the new air base at Pnom Penn, on the border of Indochina and Thailand. Japanese artillory and light armoured units which leached Pnom Penh at the week-end left for an undisclosed destination. Travellers from Thailand leport heavy concentrations of Thai infantry and artillery along the lndo-Chinu border. Despite Japan's serious internal economic condition, it is believed that her southward drive will continue, as Thailand is unlikely to resist Japanese action, reports the Shangnai correspondent of the United Press. Travellers arriving from Tokio say that torrential rains in July ruined thousands of acres of riceland in Japan and destroyed enormous quantities of food in warehouses, which collapsed during the storm, iron fencing, railings and gates have been removed from buildings, and sunken wrecks have been , raised in an effort to meet the scrap shortage. Meanwhile, the Japanese are blockading the British concessions in China, according to reports from Hongkong and Shanghai. Prom a pontoon moored off the Shameen, Japanese officers examined all vessels approaching and leaving the British Concession. Japanese authorities in Shanghai describe the blockade move as a reprisal for the British economic measures Japan. The Japanese have seized the small | United States oil-tanker Meiyo, owned by the Standard Oil Company. In Washington llepresentative Samuel Dickstein said in the House of liepresentatives to-day that Amorican citizens were being molested and pushed around by the Japanese authorities at Shanghai. “We are letting the Japanese here alone, and l for one think we are being too easy on them,” he said.