Hongkong, Mar, 9.
Japanese forces have increased their activity along the Kwangtung coast behind Hongkong from Taiping to Tamshui and Aotow, the "Sunday Herald" said today.
Motor highways are being constructed and strong defences are being built in the territory between Namtau and Bias Bay, the newspaper said.
Motor traffic now travels from Taiping. north-west of the Kowloon area toward Canton across the territory behind Kowloon to Shumchun, Tam shui and the Bias Bay shore, the newspaper said. Other routes are being widened for motorized transportation, The Japanese recently completed an airfield at Aotow and assembled some 60 motor vehicles and large quantities of stores, the "Herald" said Strong defences are under construction between Shumchun and Tamshui while Japanese forces along the border have been somewhat reduced by transfers to garrison areas between those towns.
Chinese guerillas continue to harass Japanese garrisons at night and account for some casualties, the "Herald" said—United Press.
While officials marked time pending the arrival of the all-important telegram from Vichy, optimism continued to prevail that Japan's first attempt at international mediation would prove successful. Well-informed sources attributed the delay in the arrival of the French reply to the geographical distance between "Tokyo and Vichy.
Thailand's acceptance of the terms of mediation was transmitted to the Foreign Minister, Mr, Yosuke Matsuoka, at 1030 o'clock this morning when the chief of the Thai delegation, Prince Vanvaidyakara Vara-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.