ACTIVE ENEMY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24827, 29 January 1942, Page 6

ACTIVE ENEMY

THAILAND'S DECLARATION ALLIANCE WITH JAPAN The Berlin News Agency, according to a recent cable'rhessagei quoted, a Bangkok announcement that Thailand had declared war on Britain arid;the United States. This was stated to be a sequel to a British air raid on Bangkok, capital of Thailand. . - Japanese forces invaded, Thailand early on December ; 7, and - after a "token" resistance lasting a few hours the Thai army capitulated. This was quickly followed by an agreement for the passage of Japanese troops through Thailand to Burma, and on December 11 the Japanese Domei agency reported that Japan and Thailand . had signed an offensive and ,defensiwe;,aUiai|c& l .:, The German radio~'stated£ thalHthe main provisions of-the Japanese-Thai-land agreement were: (1) The Thai Government, owing to the gravity of the situation, permitted Japanese troops to march through its territory and accorded them certain privileges; (2) Japan guarantees Thailand's independence and national liberty. Following this, it was stated from London that the fact emerged clearly thaij the Japanese were in Thailand in force and that country must now be treated 7 as enemy-occupied territory. .' Thailand has a navy .which, under Japanese direction, may havie: quite; a considerable nuisance value;. Most of the ships are quite modern/ and ; were built either in Italy or Japan. The fleet includes two seagoing, gunboats of 2256 tons, with a main armament of four Bin guns; two coast-defence ships of 1000 tons, armed with two 6in guns; one destrovea (the ex-British destroyer Radiant, launched in 1917), armed with three 4in guns; nine 318-ton torpedoboats carrying three 3in guns and six 18in torpedo-tubes; three 110-ton torpedo boats; two sloops of 1400 tons, with four '4.7in guns and four 21in torpedo tubes; eight motor torpedo boats; four submarines, and a number of tankers and oilers.