Hanoi, Mar. 8.
No confirmation can be obtained in: Hanoi of the reports spread from Japanese sources whereby the conclus: on of a definitive Franco-Thai agree-mantis imminent.
Official quatters here are maintaining a completely reserved attitude on this question, and this may lead to the belief that the difficulties encountered at the Tokyo negotiations have not al! been smoothed out yet The War Department announced the Army plans to increase its armoured force to eight and possibly ten divisions next year and also revealed that the Army was authorized to organize ten new tank battalions in June.
Establishment of a rotating policy for reserve officers on active assignments in order to provide more training for reserves also was announced by the War Department. all parties, and no party should be permitted to enjoy a special privilege ed position.
"Since 1938 the 18th Group Army (the Communist forces, formerly known as the 8th Route Army), defying the orders of the High Command, withdrew to the right bank of the Yellow River and occupied Sui-teh and other cities.
"The irregular activities and movements of the Communist forces caused unrest in the rear, and threatened the base of Chinese resistance.
As a result, during the past two years when the Government was carrying on resistance against Japan, the Government had, at the same time, to concentrate large forces in the north-west and south-west in order to ensure the security of Chinese bases in the rear.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.