SHIPS SIGHTED IN GULF OF SIAM

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24142, 8 December 1941, Page 7

SHIPS SIGHTED IN GULF OF SIAM

125,000 TROOPS IN INDO-CHINA MR. ROOSEVELT'S MESSAGE TO EMPEROR By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright / ffieceived December 7, 11.43 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 7 Japanese naval units, including cruisers, Have been sighted ty aircraft operating from Malaya steaming in a north-westerly direction (into the Gulf of Siam) after passing Point de Cameau, the most southerly point in Indo-China, it is officially stated in Singapore--1 Air reconnaissance of the South China Sea, which has been going on for several days, has confirmed previous reports of' considerable shipping activity and the movement of naval vessels round the southern coast of Indo-China. The reconnaissance has been made by Catalina aircraft of the Royal Air Force and by 'Hudson machines of the Royal Australian Air Force. Contact was made at a distance of more than 300 miles.

1. The Chinese military spokesman at Chungking said on Friday that 40 Japanese warships, including an aircraft-carrier, had been spen in Camranh Bay, on the east coast of French Indo-China. Troops Disposed for Attack on Thailand The United States State Department, according to a report from Washington, announced that reports indicated that there was a total of 125,000 Japanese troops concentrated in Indo-China and in two large and heavily-escorted Japanese convoys which were steaming toward the Gulf of Siam. The convoys had been seen this morning south-east of Point de Cameau. The State Department said it was estimated that south of Indo-China, 25,000 in the,,north, and 18,000 on board 21 transports in Camranh Bay. Reports said the deployment of the Japanese troops was such that they could be used to attack Thailand by land or sea. The information did not indicate that an 'attack was under way, but suggested that the troops had been placed in a position from -which an attack could be started if the order were given.

It is announced in Washington that President Roosevelt has sent a personal message to the Emperor Hirohito of Japan. The State Department has not disclosed the contents of the message, "but in authoritative quarters it is described as an appeal to the Emperor over the heads of the Cabinet to prevent a general Far .Eastern explosion. The President's decision to send a message to .tKe Emperor came as a complete surprise in Washington. In 1937 the President sent a message to the Emperor after the sinking of .the United States gunboat Panay by the Japanese. The President's action is regarded in London as a last effort to avoid war. r Defence Precautions in Malaya and Burma In Singapore all members of the services have been recalled :frora leave. Further defence measures have been taken in Burma. -All able-bodied men can now be conscripted for the fighting services, or to assist them at what is described as the "moment of actual or apprehended attack."

Arrangements are being completed in Australia for the convoying of Australian ships on vital routes. Australian forces are boms made available for the defence of the Netherlands East irdies.

The Australian Minister in Washington, Mr. R. G. Casey, on -Friday conferred tWice with the British Ambassador, Viscount rHaiifax, on the Far Eastern crisis, and later conferred with Colonel -"Knox, United States Secretary of the Navy. The cornmancler-in-chief of the American forces in the Far -East, General McArthur, conferred to-day with the President of "the Philippines, Dr. Quezon.