THAILAND COUP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23852, 31 December 1940, Page 8

THAILAND COUP

;;;;; JAPANESE SCHE3IE --INDO-CHINA ALLEGATION HOSTILITIES CONTINUED HONGKONG, Dec. 29 'Authoritative reports from Hanoi allege that a Japanese plan has been disclosed for a. coup d'etat in Thailand, coincidental with increased Japanese pressure for bases in southern IndoCliina. It is stated that four Japanese en route to Bangkok on a goodwill mission were instructed to organise a coup d'etat through the Thai Army, which received ?<'■) pursuit aeroplanes and 25 bombers from Japan early in December". The Bangkok Maru is reported to be j en route to Bangkok with 950 tons of j munitions and guns. Another ship is sailing from Japan shortly, carrying tanks. , Japanese "tourists" in southern Indo-China are increasing rapidly, and seek to penetrate French military zones j in Cambodia and Laos. Large-scale hostilities have flared up ,on the Indo-China frontier, says a message from Bangkok. The Thai High .Command declared that the French retreated after two clashes, leaving arms and ammunition. . A Hanoi report, however, says French troops drove back Thai forces which crossed the border in southern Cambodia. Fifteen Thai troops were killed.