Modern Equipment Rushed To Malaya

Chronicle (Levin), 7 July 1948, Page 5

Modern Equipment Rushed To Malaya

Received Tuesday, 7 p.m. SlNGAi'ORE, July 6. Armoured cars equipped with the latest type.s of armament and wireless, are among the modern equipment being rushed to Malaya to flght the terrorists, says tlie Kuala Lumpur newspaper Malay Mail. The armoured cars will patrol isolated areas on the main trunk roads and will earry combat sc;uads. The Acting-Iligh Commissioner (Sir Alec Newboult), declared *it was the Government 's intention to seek out and utterly destroy the terrorists. Out'lining the measures to stop Communist reinforcements from reaching Malayaf Sir Alec said the northern frontier with Riam would be moro closely guarded. He added: "At large in Malaya there are bodies of ruthless men, Communist inspired, who are pursning a d,efinite campaign to disrupt the whol.e economic life of this country." Sir Alec said the strength of the polic'e had been, eonsiderably iucreased and also the number of regular troops in the Federation. •Automatic. firearms and other modern equipment were being rushed to Malaya. General Boucher told the Federal Legislative Council that the weight of the Communist attacks had now shifted from the European estates, because the planters were better organised and a tougher proposition thaii "these ehaps can take on." Rtroug-arm partieS were now "operating in the populated areas. Expressing the ' utntost- confldence ♦■haf the forces of law and order could beat the Uommunist forces, General Boucher said: "I tackled the Greek and Tndian Reds and this is my easiest jobvet. " The Council passed the Bill, which introduees sterner emergency powers in Dfalava. Orders for detention mav uo>" be made for two years without a charge being preferred.