“PREPARE AGAINST AMERICA”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21816, 20 November 1940, Page 7

“PREPARE AGAINST AMERICA”

Japanese Feeling Aroused United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Rec. November 20, 12.30 a.m.) TOKIO, November 19. Glaring red and black posters appeared overnight throughout the city headlining “Prepare Against America.” The National Patriotic Party distributed the posters which were particularly numerous in the vicinity of the United States Embassy. Asserting that Britain and the United States were showing an increasingly tough attitude in their Far Eastern preparations, the “Asahi Shimbun” says: “We must be fully ready with a sharp watch in the south besides rushing a solution of Important domestic problems in China.” The “China Daily News” says the Japanese peace efforts are doomed to failure. Even a Japanese withdrawal from China would not bring peace because any withdrawal would be aimed at the conquest of Southern Asia, after which Japan would eventually again invade China. “The Chinese military authorities do not fail to recognise that this is their golden opportunity to defeat Japan.’’ Fighting in Jungles A correspondent at Bangkok reports that Thailand and Indo-China troops have been engaged in serious fighting since Saturday in the jungles along the Mekong river in south-eastern Thailand, whose government has already mobilised 100,000 men including reserves. The objective of the Thailand troops is apparently Laos rather than Cambodia. The United States Assistant Secretary of State (Mr Sumner Welles) denied the Tokio reports that a pact had been offered to Slam. At Bangkok the American Minister and the British Legation denied the report while reliable circles close to the Government said it was without foundation. The report was a Japanese trial balloon.