OFFER OF "AID"

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24106, 27 October 1941, Page 7

OFFER OF "AID"

JAPAN TO THAILAND BANGKOK WORRIED INHERENT THREAT (Reed. 6.40 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 25 An open suggestion by the Japan: Times-Advertiser, which is usually recognised as the mouthpiece of the Japanese Foreign Office, that Japan should offer Thailand her "assistance" is causing deep concern in authoritative circles in Thailand, says a message from Bangkok. The continued references in Tokio to the alleged success of anti-Japanese political plotters in Thailand are also viewed with concern, because of the inherent threat which these suggestions carry to Thailand's policy of neutrality. Thailand has repeatedly and solemnly declared that she will uphold her neutrality even to the point of war, in the event of aggression from any quarter. New Indies Army Commander A message from Batavia says Lieu-teuant-General ter Poorten, chief-of-staff of the Netherlands East Indies Army, has been appointed commander-in-chief in succession to LieutenantGeneral G. J. Berenschot, who was killed in an air crash recently. At the same time Eieutenant-General ter Poorten will be head of the War Department. He has been the chief advocate of the strengthening of the air force, and is an outstanding specialist on artillery problems. The Batavia newspapers welcome the new commander-in-chief, in whom they express complete confidence. Lieu-tenant-General ter Poorten has already met the military leaders and obtained a clear picture of all strategical problems. Many Arrests of Chinese The Chinese Central News say 3 the Japanese have arrested more than 1000 young Chinese in Canton in the last fortnight in an effort to counteract the growing resistance. Many of the prisoners have been tortured in an attempt to make them divulge secrets of the anti-Japanese movement. The former Russian military adviser to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, General Mrochovsky, shot himself dead at his home in the French Concession at Shanghai when Japanese gendarmes entered to question him regarding an alleged illegal radio transmitter. ITALIAN SEA LOSSES SEPTEMBER'S HEAVY TOLL MORALE OF THE FLEET (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 25 Thirty per cent of all enemy ships leaving Italian ports in September never reached Libya, and a further 20 per cent were damaged, said the ComI mander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. Sir Andrew Cunningham. Thus only 50 per cent of Axis troop reinforcements and supplies reached Libya intact. Sir Andrew said the inactivity of the Italian fleet was possibly due somewhat to war weariness. He knew that the morale on the smaller Italian warship 3 was better than on the large ships. The cracking of morale, however, always began on the big ships. "It is a wonder to me Italian merchant seamen are still willing; to go to sea, in view of the extraordinary losses they have suffered, but probably they are driven to it." he said. j Admiral Cunningham estimated thaij the Italian fleet, having had time to carry out repairs, and taking into account new launchings, probably now > consisted of four or five battleships, two, and probably ■ four, Sin.-gun.. cruisers, up to 14 6in.-gun cruisers and i numerous destroyers, the total of which it was impossible to ' estimate.Italian submarine losses were about 33 per cent. ENEMY PRESSURE BOMBARDMENT OF TOBRUK BRITISH PATROL SUCCESSES (Reed. 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 25 A Cairo headquarters communique states that the enemy bombing of the harbour and base installations afe ' Tobruk on Friday was on a heavier scale, as was also the hostile shelling of all sectors. Damage, however, was negligible and there were no casualties. Tn the western sector one of our patrols, numbering an officer and eighti soldiers, encountered and attacked an enemy patrol. 30 sttong. Ihe enemy waa driven off. suffering considerable losses. The British patrol lost four men. In the frontier area, our mechanised patrols operated over a wide area be-v tween Halfaya and Sidi Omar without i encountering any opposition. On Thurs~ day one of our patrols which had penetrated deeply into enemj; territory returned with five German prisoners. According to the correspondent of tha Associated Press at Jibuti, the Gov* ernor-General of French Somaliland announced that British and Free French troops had opened an attack on the , colony. The French claimed that British columns had already advanced ;50 miles, and were pushing, on further. It is authoritatively stated in London, however, that the announcement might be without foundation, and that; the Vichy authorities are possibly endeavouring to distract , attention from the reprisals for the shootings in France. Competent military quarters in London state that British patrols, in conjunctions with patriots, have been in contact with the enemy in the Ambazzo area. 10 miles north of Gondar, which is the last stronghold of the Italians in Abyssinia. Considerable opposition was encountered. It is believed that there are some 15.000 Italian troops in this area, but, as they have virtually been isolated for the past six or seven months, it is likely that they are shore of supplies. SWEEPING CHANGES FASCIST TRADE GUILDS REASONS NOT DIVULGED (Reed. 6.35 p.m.) ROME, Oct. 25 In Italy's most sweeping shake-up for years, Mussolini has transferred or replaced 60 Fascist trade guild officials. Nineteen of the 22 guilds controlling Italy's economic production are affected. The reasons for the changes have not been announced, but it is assumed the object is to make the guild system more efficient for meeting the country's increasing wartime needs, and also to remove causes of public complaint.