ARMED CLASHES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23331, 15 October 1945, Page 5

ARMED CLASHES

French And Annamese Japanese Snipers Active

By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyrigh (Rec, 7.30 p.m.) SAIGON, Oct. 13. In order to expand their grip to the west French troops attacked at dawn on Friday and killed about 100 Annamese, and also two Jap-

anese leading them, and took 800 Annamese prisoners, who will be court-martialled. Eight Frenchmen were killed and 15 wounded in the attack on the nationalist stronghold, in which the French were supported by British 25-pounders. -The French said that plenty of Japanese snipers were

aiding the Annamese. Heavy gunfire can still be heard in Saigon. Sniping is occurring around Saigon’s power station. The South-east Asia Command announced that Major-General Gracey (head of the Allied Control Commission) is occupying the key areas in Indo-China needed for controlling communications to Saigon. The Paris radio says that Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and ths French representative in the Fgr East (Admiral G. T. d’Argenliea) reached an agreement under which the administration of French Indo-China will be hau-ied over to

the French authorities. France has no intention of relinquishing Indo-China, but offers the five Indo-Chinese States the status of a semi-autonomous federation, said M. Paul Giaccobi, French Colonial Minister.

M. Giaccobi said France blamed the Indo-China troubles on foreign support for independence movements and referred to "the vast anti-colonial current flowing throughout the world.”

M. Giaccobi did not elaborate, but official sources interpreted the statement as referring to America, where support for independence movements is believed to be particularly strong. It is also believed that support is coming from China and Japan. An earlier message reported fighting between French forces and Annamese at Thammhmytay, north-east of Saigon. Heavy fighting went on since early yesterday morning when French troops, under orders , from the British Commander (Major-General Gracey), moved in to occupy the area. British troops yesterday occupied Giadinh, north-west of Saigon, without incident.

General Gracey, after the Annamese attack, in -which one English and one Indian officer were killed, warned the Annamese that henceforth they would be punished for all attacks against Allied troops, including French and Japanese.