SUSPECTS ROUNDED UP

Chronicle (Levin), 17 July 1948, Page 5

SUSPECTS ROUNDED UP

( N.Z.P.A .-

-Reuter

first Move On Terrorists In Singapore

■ Covyright)

Received Fridav, 10.35 p.m. ! • LONDON, July 16. , Reuter's Shangliai eorrespondent states that poliee in a pre-dawu raid this niorning cordoned oif a rara! area putside Singapore and detained 375 persons, mostly vminese, for se.reening and interrogation. It was the first eombined poliee and military operation on Singapore Island and is part of the preeautionary measures to forestall terrorist activity in Singapore. A clash wherein eleven terrorists were killed was. this morning ^fougKt out on a rubber estate" near Ivajang. The poliee rushecl a tiouse killing two oceupants. Terrorist reinforeenients ot 30 men armed with brenguns, Stenguns and handgrenades arrived and foreed the poliee temporarily to withdraw. The action was resumed when poliee reinforcements arrived and after a gun battle the terrorists broke of? the fight, having lost nine more killed. The policcsuffered 110 scrious easualties. Gurkhas and poliee are pursuing the terrorists. Terrorists yesterdav shot (lead a 53-year-old Chinese who was awarded .the British Empire Medal for serviees during the oeeupation. Reuter's Singapore eorrespondent states that the president of the Malayan People 's Anti-Japanese Ariny was among5' the Comniuni'st terrosists killed this niorning in the gun battle with the poliee near Ivajang. He was the 30 vear-old Chinese Lao Yeiv who went to London 111 1946 with tlie Malayan Victory Contingent and parfieipated in- the Victory Parade. Five of tlie eleven terrorists killed dwing the gun battle were Chinese women. Another Corninunist killed was believed to be tlie loader of the Joliore insurgents. The First Battalion of the Inniskilling Fusiliers was today ordered to move from Hong Kong to Singapore. Tlie liattalioil will reinforee the Britisli Forces eombating terrorism 111 Malaya. Tlie olfiee of the CoininissionerGeneral for the Fnited Kingdom in Southeast Asia (Mr. Alaleplm MaeDouald) to night issued a statemeiit say ing: "Tlie report tliat Lord Listowel stated that Sir Alee Newboult, the AetingIligh Conimissioner for tlie Federatiou of Malaya, is satislied that tlie poliee have adequate forces to deal with tlie present situation is clearly. ineorrect. '* (Lord Listowel, the Minister of State for tlie Colonies, was reported as saying in the House of Lords that the Higli Conimissioner is satislied tliat the poliee nave adeipiate forces for tlie action they are taking.) The statemeiit added: "Sir Alee never expresse,d any sueli opinion. G11 the eontrary, lie autliorised some tim«' ago tlie reeruitmeut of nearlv BtJi Hl additional nieu to the poliee force witli tlie necessary complement of additional offieers. At the same time lie author ised the reeruitment of many thousands of speeial eonstables to assist tlie iegn lar poliee. ;/flie i-eivruiijuent of boti» eategories is proveeding energetieally. " The first shooting' on Singapore Islan 1 in tiic recerit troubies oecurred toniglit. when a Malav gangsler was sliot (lead and auoilier captured as a result ot' a poliee anibusli. Four gangslers escapeo in a car with tlie poliee in pursuit. Des])ite ihe present lerrorism 111 the Federatiou oi' Malaya, strikes hava reached tlie lowest ligure since tlie Iil> eration, aceording to an annoinieemeiit made in Kuala Lumpur. There are onp two strikes, involving 7-3 persons at present. Botli are 011 rubber estates m Joliore. Troops and poliee in a 16-hou. oneration in tlie Baling area, Kedali. burned down eight: Conmiuiiist dwe.il ings and wounded an armed Chinese.