THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 20,-1941-7/
German Fire Raid In South
After a quiet day, mark- ed only by the shooting down by British fighters of an enemy bomber in the Channel, the alert was sounded in London some time after dark last night,
heard A burst of gunfire was soon afterwards but a quiet spell followed.
Enemy aircraft were reported near a West of England town, a Midlands town and an East An- glian town last night.
South Coast Attacked
Large numbers of raiders ap proached A South Coast town Incendiaries were showered on it but fire watchers and others were prepared and many were soon extinguished.
There was little German air activity "round our coasts" during yesterday, states an Air Ministry communique.
A single enemy 'plane dropped bombs on an East Coast town it the morning but damage was little and casualties few. -Reuter.
ONE-SIDED DEAL IN FRANCE
Evidence continues to reach London showing that the much advertised "collaboration" between France and Germany is a very one-sided affair.
One example is arrangements for compensation paid to persons whose goods have been requisi- tioned by the German army. The rate fixed is generous but accord- ing to a recent decree of the Vichy Finance Ministry it is France who pays.
Whether the cost of this com- pensation is reckoned as part the immense daily charges which France is paying in respect of the German occupation or whether in exchange for paying out francs the Vichy Government obtains credit in the recently introduced "clearing account is not known, but either way the French nation be- nefits little by the transaction,
These payments to individuals have, moreover, little effect since the increase in money is unaccom- panied by an increase in goods.
Another instance is that in which private safe deposit boxes are being dealt with. Last July the Germans ordered all banks to supply a list of these and forbade their being opened except in the presence of a German financial authority. Later the Germans announced these boxes must be opened "voluntarily" before Janu- ary 10, otherwise the authorities would open the safes themselves.
Reliable reports show that when the safes were opened all gold, foreign money and securities and unset stones are lodged with the name of the safeholders. But
they are blocked by the Germans. -British Wireless.
VICHY STATES ITS STAND
France is determined to defend the integrity of Indo-China, declared. “Le Temps" yesterday com- menting on the fighting between French and Thai troops on the Indo-China border.
The newspaper declared that That's attempt to "realise her ter ritorial claims cannot be justifiën either historically or by Jegal right based on treaties, and adds:
Thai must "not think that France, "though conquered, will give up. everything.. Indo-China is being defended and will be de fended in all circumstances, what, ever they may be
Reuter
FRENCH CLAIMS
A Thailand advanced unit was dispersed cast of Poipet by French motorised units, declares a com- munique issued in Hanoi by Ad- miral Decoux, adding that on the Mekong River the French tirely cleared the island of
Søvannkbet.
en-
During the night of January
Greek
Torpedo
Feat