MOUNTING DEATH ROLL

Chronicle (Levin), 19 July 1948, Page 5

MOUNTING DEATH ROLL

(N.Z.P.A. — .

Reuter.

ialayan Terrorists Kill v British Offieer

, Copyright)

Received Monday, i0.20 a.m. SINGAPORE» July 18. Terrorists today killed a 'British Army officer who \va's .earlier feported to have U-een wohnded irt" a ciash at aBi.doiV 40- ihiile$ south . of ' ipoh. H'e was-'. an officer of the, Gurkha Regimejit and .was the first: .British. /fcasua-lty in the onerations against Jhe Terrorists anq the'; secohd army fatality following the killing of" a lance-corporal ih- the Gurkhas at Kaj ang, yesterday. . Gurkhasfhear^Bidpr surprised" a • eamp of "Between '• 20 and " 5U guerriRas and shot. one c.ead hefore the guerrillas seattered, Terrorist fire hit 'and killed the officer while ' croops were pursuing theAerrorists. At Kaj ang today, Gurkhas in a nine-hour sweep, recovered the body of the lance-corporal killed yesterday. . They arrested two suspects carrying important Communist . do.cumentSj hut did not contact the terrorist armed forces,. Fifty-five persons have. heen killed by terrorists since July 1, ^ays the Straits. Times. In Singapore the. police are, ;hrowin.g '■'aprons." .of harhed wire around all police. stations as a precaution against attacks. It is . feared that terrorism might spread to Singapore at any time, although it is not expected until next-month after the proclamation Qf a Shviet Republic of Malaya by the Communists. London agents have informed an Ipoh European flrm importing, fireama from Britain, that the Ministry; of Su])ply has stopped export petmits" foj Malay agents. The Ministry has taken this action pending a decision by the Colonial Oflfiee. The firui claims it has a waiting ligt of at least 150' Europeans and Chinese wanting flrearms. There is "every indication that Malaya is • only entering the flrst phase of the Gommunist .effort to disrupt the country's econoiny before any attempt is made to seize politieal control, which, so far as the terrorists are concerned, means the overthrow of the Government, says The Times' correspondent. The British military strength in Malaya was at its lovvest when the . (Jommunist offensive began in earnest, The police strength was and stilt is far below that necessary to deal -with the present situation. ' Although it is not possible to assess tlie numerical strength of the Communists, it is known that there are many thousands, with thousands more trving to enter from Siam. All these terrorists .are not Communists, buti support the Communist cause .on a' purely tnercenary basis. Unfdrtunately ttie Siamese place no obstacles in the Avay of their entering Malaya, but take energetic measures to prevent their reentry into Siam-