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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 3 December 1940, Page 5

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SOUTH INDO CHINA CITIES FIGHTING ON THAI FRONTIER IMPRESSIONOF GRAVE SITUATION [U.P.A.— By Electric Telegraph-Copyright] Received 3rd Dec., 10.30 a.m. LONDON, 2nd December. The High Command in Bangkok issued a communique stating that Thai forces on Sunday repulsed a French invasion of southern Thailand. It said French planes continued to violate Thailand all day Sunday. A Hanoi report says a 20minute air battle occurred above the Mekong River village of Thakhek, while the French retaliated against Thailand following bombings on 28th and 30th November. The principal southern IndoChina cities are blacked out and the Hanoi authorities are giving the impression of a grave situation. FRENCH RELIGIOUS EXPULSION FROM THAILAND HANOI, 2nd December. It is officially stated that the French Catholic bishop in the Siamese part of Laos, Monsignor Gouin, and also Father Malava and Sister Ursule, arrived at Thakhek from Siam on Sunday after being arrested in Siam. It is alleged that they were exposed to public view for six hours while confined in an iron cage before being expelled to Indo-China. They were not allowed to take their possessions. OBJECTIVES IN THAKHEK BOMBED (Received 3rd December, 9.5 a.m.) BANGKOK, 2nd December. The Prime Minister issued a communique stating that military objectives in Thakhek were bombed on 30th November. Ten bombs directly hit antiaircraft batteries within the demilitarised zone; also a French troop concentration. ATTACK ON FRENCH RIVERBOAT (Received 3rd December, 9.5 a.m.) HANOI, 30th November. It is officially stated that Thai planes dropped nine bombs which failed to hit the 500-ton French armed riverboat Beryle near Kone Island in the Gulf of Siam, after which two planes renewed the attack whereupon the Beryle returned their fire and is believed to have damaged one plane, which escaped. Thai troops have occupied Bandong, an unprotected Mekong river island. CHINESE CLAIM JAPANESE OFFENSIVE SMASHED CHUNGKING, 2nd December. It is officially announced that the Chinese smashed the Japanese mul-tiple-pronged offensive along the 150mile front in Fishang, North Hupeh, Tangying and north-east Ichang at the week-end. They killed more than 12,658 Japanese in a score of scattered, sanguinary battles.