PRESSURE ON BRITAIN

Southland Times, Issue 24164, 28 June 1940, Page 5

PRESSURE ON BRITAIN

OPPORTUNISM OF JAPAN AMERICANS WORRIED ABOUT N.Z. POSSIBLE ACTION IF EMPIRE IS BEATEN (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received June 27, 6.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, June 26. The Nanning correspondent of the Domei Agency says that the Japanese forces approaching the Indo-China border have continued their advance towards Ningming, 20 miles south-east of Lungchow, which o(her Japanese units are approaching, in spite of stiff Chinese resistance. The Japanese also are progressing towards Mingking.

The Domei Agency said that military circles expected the occupation of Ningming and Mingking today, resulting in the Japanese controlling the key points on the Nanning—to Pingsiang highway.

The Shanghai correspondent of The New York Times says that the early fall of Rear-Admiral Mitsumasu Yonai’s Cabinet is expected after which the extremists are likely to succeed. Signs of the trend of policy was seen in Mr Hata’s statement that any third power “failing to understand Japan’s contentions and who, instead, thwarts the execution of Japan’s national policies must be treated drastically.” Japan is playing an opportunist game, placing pressure on Britain and France. Pressure against Britain is expected to increase if the Blitzkrieg promises success.

The question momentarily disquieting Far Eastern Americans is whether Japan will keep her hands off Australia and New Zealand in case Britain is defeated and whether the United States would permit Japanese intrusion in those lands.

' The thinly disguised Japanese intention of eventually occupying Indo-China is greatly increasing apprenhensions. A westward movement of the United States fleet is seen as the only possible deterrent. Japanese pressure to cut off war supplies proceeding towards Chungking puts a new face on the desperation of Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s cause, resulting in increased desertions from Chungking. Several generals from the Hupeh fronts have arrived in Nanking and are bargaining with Mr Wang Ching-wei, Japan’s puppet. Six Chinese pilots landed at Ichang, inside the Japanese lines, seeking to join the Nanking administration.

BRIDGES DYNAMITED The Hong Kong correspondent of the Associated Press of America says that the British dynamited bridges spanning the Shumchun “purely as a precautionary measure for defensive purposes.” The Chinese report that Japanese forces have occupied Mirs Bay, thus encircling Hong Kong. The Hong Kong correspondent of the Associated Press of America says that The China Mail reports that Japanese warships have arrived off Haiphong and established a blockading screen, presumably to search ships using the port.

It is authoritatively stated in Hong Kong that no additional Japanese warships so far have appeared in south China waters. There are no indications of the Haiphong blockade.

Rear-Admiral Kanazawa in Tokyo declined to disclose the strength of Japanese warships sent to Indo-China. He said that Japanese aeroplanes had just discovered a large quantity of war supplies enroute from Indo-China. The Asahi Shimbun said that the foreign Office was issuing a statement on Friday or Saturday declaring that “East Asiatic autonomy” would not tolerate third powers’ interference in the East Asiatic situation.

It was announced by the Moscow radio tonight that Japan was negotiating for the establishment of protectorates over the French and Dutch possessions in the Far East. The announcer added that this would be done with the full approval of Germany and Italy.