A MAJOR ATTACK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24413, 26 September 1940, Page 7

A MAJOR ATTACK

JAPAN’S INTENTION FIGHTING IN INDO-CHINA AGREEMENT CANCELLED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) HANOI, Sept. 24. (Received Sept. 25, at 7 p.m.) The French have recaptured Dongdang. It is reported that the French are making a determined stan ' at Langson. The French artillery is shelling from strong forlific; tions and taking a heavy 101 l of the Japanese, whose bodies are piled high along the roads outside Langson The Japanese announce that itu will launch a major attack on September 25, 'Deluding the bombing of Haiphong. The Japanese appeal to be attacking independently Major-general Nishihara, *-ho sailed from Haiphong for Hainan, is reported to be attempting to persuade General Ando, commanding the Japanese Army in South China, to delay the attack. Major-general Nishihara encountered a Japanese invasion fleet of eiglr transports, one cruiser, and three destroyers en route to Haiphong He ir reported to have asked the fleet commander to defer the attempt at landing. The Haiphong schools are closed and trains are evacuating civilians. The French-Japa.icse agreement, signed on Sent-.mber 22 lias been cancelled.

The French Ambassadoi in Washington, Mr Haye, has asserted that the French forces in Indo-China are determined to resist the Japanese, regardless of the odds against them. A message from Chungking says that the Chinese Cabinet is understood to have protested to France and will hold France responsible for any losses or damage inci rred as a result of the Indo-China agreement.

According to a message from Shanghai, the Japanese Army’s Sinshunpao, commenting on IndoChina, says: “ Should misunderstanding arise between Washington and Tokio, leading to a-crisis, Japan will give a blow to any opposition, regardless of what happens.”