BRITISH RETIRE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20661, 12 January 1942, Page 5

BRITISH RETIRE

JAPS. IN MALAYA PANZER TACTICS USED INVADERS’ LOSSES HEAVY (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Jan. 12, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 11. The Slim River battle —the most serious engagement so far in the Malaya war, seems to have gone in favour of the Japanese, who have forced the British forces to relinquish their earlier positions on the lower Perak and reform in the region northward of Rawang. The British infantry was obliged to leave some equipment and transport and seek cover in the jungle after inflicting heavy casualties in the enemy. The majority of the British troops reached the stronger positions in the rear after harrowing journeys through the jungle. A Singapore communique states: “Our aircraft extensively attacked ' enemy targets. Several large fires were started at Sungei Patani followed by several explosions. Aircraft attacked the Ipoh aerodrome and started three big fires. At Singora, bombs were dropped on shipping, the railway junction and military buildings which were set on fire. A Singapore communique states: “There is no further change in the situation on the Malayan fronts. Enemy aircraft attacked targets in Malaya yesterday. The railway at Tebong was bombed, causing temporary damage to the track. The casualties included several killed and 20 injured. Muar was bombed this morning. No details of casualties oi damage have been received. There was an “alert” in Singapore in the early hours of this morning. No bombs were dropped. Patrol ana reconnaissance activities by aircraft o; the Far East Command continued throughout yesterday.” Describing the Japanese offensive in a despatch from Seremban,, the Associated Press correspondent says that the Japanese adopted modified Panzer tactics in which light tanks were used as feelers, the heavy tanks following. Threat to Defenders’ Rear The invaders managed to force a slight withdrawal of the British troops in the region of the Slim River after brief severe fighting in which the British casualties were light. The British officers declared that the Japanese tanks completely disappeared after the engagement.

Intelligence officers discovered on a Japanese tank a lieutenant with complete maps of Malaya. The lieutenant was dressed in a green uniform with a crash helmet. His equipment included a camera. The correspondent adds that the Japanese forces which landed at Kuala Selangor still constitute a threat to the British rear. The Japanese are believed to be roaming in the jungle and rubber estates eastward of Rawang, while the main force is advancing southwards down the main road to Tanjong Malim. It was officially stated in Singapore that details of the fighting in Slim River area are still incomplete. The available information confirms the severity of the engagement during which our forces were withdrawn further to the south. On other fronts in Malaya there is nothing to report. Jap. Dromes Bombed In the last 24 hours there have been two “alerts” in Singapore. No bombs were dropped. Aircraft of the Far East Command carried out extensive attacks on enemy targets on Friday morning. At Sungei Patani several large fires were started and were followed by a series of explosions. The aircraft which attacked the Ipoh aeiodrome dropped a number of bombs on runways and started three big fires, two of which appeared to be burning aircraft. A third fire was started in a long building and the flames were visible 50 miles away. At Singora bombs were dropped on shipping, the railway junction and military buildings where a huge fire was started. This was still burning when aircraft arrived later over the target, and it is thought that considerable damage was done to military stores. Enemy aircraft which approached Singapore Island in Friday morning were intercepted by our fighters and shot down over Johore A Japanese bomber nosing towards Singapore over the Straits of Johore found an unpleasant surprise awaiting it when two New Zealand pilots dived and shot him down in the Johore jungle. One pilot, a Maori from New Plymouth, fired first at longrange. Smoke burst immediately from one engine. The other pilot from Napier sent in the second burs . The other engine caught fire and the Japanese plane crashed The Maori pilot said: “It was my first bag, but 1 am hoping for a lot more.” Enemy Steamer Sunk The Singapore radio announced that Roval Air Force Hudsons scored four direct hits on a Japanese ship off the east coast of Malaya. A subsequent reconnaissance flight indicated that the ship had been sunk. The Domei Agency stated that the Japanese had captured Kuala Kuba aerodrome, 10 miles north of Kuala L A nP strong but fruitless attack by T a nanese bombers on a Netherlands Si was recorded in a Netherlands East Indies communique, issued at Batavia, which states: “On Friday night military objectives at Tarakan in the north-east corner ol Dutch Borneo, was again bombed by Japanese bombers, numbering about eight. As a target the enemy aircraft apparently chose a warship of the Royal Netherlands Navy lying off Tarakan which had met previous attacks with anti-aircraft gunfire. About 30 bombs were directed at the ship, but no hit was scored, either on it or a merchant ship lying nearby. Five members of the merchant ship’s crew were slightly wounded by one of the few bombs which came near. The ship was insignificantly damaged above the waterline. Enemy reconnaissance activity took place over various points of the outer provinces.” After torpedoing and sinking a Netherlands "East Indies cargo ship in the Java Sea, a Japanese submarine shelled and machine-gunned the' lifeboats which had been launched, according to the story told by three survivors. These men were in a lifeboat which was rammed and smashed by the submarine. When they clambered aboard the submarine, they were pushed back into the sea by the Japanese. They found a lifeboat intact and managed to reach land.