FAR EAST BASE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24085, 2 October 1941, Page 10

FAR EAST BASE

LAEGE REINFORCEMENT AMERICAN NAVAL CONVOYS SUPPLIES SENT TO RANGOON LONDON, Sept. 30 Further large reinforcements have arrived at Singapore, including Royal Air Force personnel, artillery and signallers. The journey from Britain was uneventful. Dr. Stephen Pan, former Professor of International Relations, speaking at Chungking, said that the United States Navy is convoying vessels across the Pacific via the Netherlands East Indies and Singapore to Rangoon. Dr. Pan said he boarded a ship at San Francisco in .Inly. It was loaded with 20 bombers and 200 trucks for the Netherlands East Indies, also pursuit aeroplanes, IpO trucks, American volunteer pilots, mechanics, doctors and nurses for China. Tho Tokio newspaper Kokumin, declaring that the United States was taking an arrogant attitude and anticipating the weakening of Japan, said the stand in East Asia must be immutable and resolute. A conference has been held in Singapore, attended by Mr. Duff Cooper, Sir Earle Page, the Australian. Minister who is on his way to London, the Com-mander-in-Chief of the British Forces in the Far East, Sir Robert BrookoPopham, the Commander-in-Chief of the China Station, Viec-Admiral Sir Geoffrey J jay ton, the British Ambassador to China, and the British Minister to Thailand. Mr. Ishii, .Japanese spokesman, stated that Japan was greatly concerned over Mr. Duff Cooper's activities. He added: "Although the British assert they are acting defensively, we think they are encircling Japan. However, we admire Mr. Duff Coopers Irankness in his utterances wherever he goes. The Associated Press correspondent in Tokio says the British Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie, plans to leave Tokio on October 10, en route for the United States for a vacation.