The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-01
All Areas, Hongkong To Singapore Prepare
,cOntlnued from Page D

recommendatlon of Sir Robert Brooke -Popham, cir marshal who is British commander in chief in the Far East, placed British war sea- tons from the border with Thailand in the north to Singapore in the south, in readiness for instant acc tion.
 Indian, British and Australian troops were standing by and army and air force volunteers, naval re- servists and local defense forces were mobilizing. The local defense corps is similar to the home guards in England,
 It was expected that the state of emergency soon would be extended to the unfederated Malay states, which include Johore.
 All airdromes guarding Malay's long seacoast were on he alert ana constant aerial patrols were being maintained,
 Proclamation
 The proclamation, emphasizing the concern of the British command over the possibility of a Japanese move against Thailand, was issued after conference between Sir Shenton and Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke Popham, commander In chief of British forces throughout the Far East,
 A state of emergency was decreed 24 hours after the announcement that strong endorsements, includ- ing both British and Indian troops of all arms, had arrived at Rangoon, Burma, li0 miles from the Thanand frontier, Saturday and Sunday.
 All men of the reinforcement con- tingent are well seasonetd, 1t was made known, and many have been active service in other war theatres.
 Thousands of troops of the Singa- pore garrison were under stand by" orders following an order, flashed on the screens of movie theatres Saturday night, for troops to report at once to barracks.
 Singapore was quiet and on the surface uneXcited.
 Well informed quarters discounted rumors that the Japanese had al" ready started to move against Thail- and, saying they were premature.
 It was said that oil emergency orders were issued because of the generally troubled South Pacific sit- uation, as part of 0 plan to omit no defense precaution.
 ThallNnd ManeuveFs
 Bangkok, Thailond, Dec, l--(UP) That newspapers said today that Indo- China troops, supported by aviation, were maneuvering near the Thalland frontier under alien of- fieers" and that "our neighbors al- ready have fixed the bayonet.'
 The reference to "Nlien officers presumably was to Japanese,
 The newspaper Prajamit said that Thailand's future depended upon the outcome Of Japanese American conversations In Washington, All newspapers gave prominanee to re- ports of the Washington negotia- tons,
 Prajamit said the maneuvers were occurring near the frontier town of Kapse,
 The charge that "our neighbors already have fixed the bayonet" was made by the newspaper Sumane- plum,
 East Indies Mobilize
 Batavia, N. E. l., Dec. l-(uP)- The Netherlands East Indies army air force was ordered mobili2ed to- day and all active and reserve air force members, as vel las radio operators and engineers, wer called up, the official news agency Aneta said.
 Aneta said the mobilization decree was issued by Governor General A, w. L. Tjarda Van Starkenborgh- Stachouwer, who issued an order based on the necessity, under pres ent circumstances, to render com pletely ready the military air force, which must be able to fight in the front line.'