SERIOUS CLASHES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21850, 31 December 1940, Page 11

SERIOUS CLASHES

French Retreat in IndoChina Report Of Japanese Coup By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 30, 6.30 p.m.) BANGKOK, December 29. Large-scale hostilities have flared up on the Indo-China frontier. The Thai High Command declared that the French retreated after two clashes, leaving arms and ammunition. Authoritative sources at Hanoi allege that a Japanese plan was disclosed for a coup d’etat in Thailand coincidental with increased Japanese pressure for bases in southern Indo-China. Four Japanese who are en route to Bangkok for a good will mission, have been instructed to organise the coup d’etat through the Thai army which received 33 pursuit ’planes and 25 bombers from Japan early in December. The Bangkok Maru is reported to be en route to Bangkok with 950 tons of munitions and guns and another ship is sailing from Japan shortly carrying tanks. Japanese “tourists” to southern IndoChina are increasing rapidly. They seek to penetrate the French military zones at Combodia and Laos.