DEFENCE IN MALAYA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1941, Page 6

DEFENCE IN MALAYA

STRONG REINFORCEMENTS FROM BRITAIN & INDIA. LARGE R.A.F. CONTINGENT. LONDON, August 25. Strong reinforcements have arrived in Malaya. The largest R.A.F. contingent sent out for a year arrived in Singapore today. Indian reinforcements have also arrived. UNEVENTFUL VOYAGE MADE IN LUXURY LINER. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This'Day, 10.27 a.m.) RUGBY, August 25. News agency messages from Singapore state that it is officially announced there that the largest single body of R.A.F. personnel to arrive in Malaya for more than a year landed at Singapore today, after an eight weeks’ uneventful voyage in a luxury liner. The arrivals include air crews and ground staff. Also aboard was a small party of Royal Australian Air Force personnel from, the Middle East. Reinforcements of the Indian Expeditionary Force, completely equipped, also arrived. ONE SHIP LOST FORCED TO DROP OUT OF CONVOY. ON ACCOUNT OF SLOW SPEED. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) SINGAPORE, August 25. The arrival of the convoy is taken to indicate Britain’s determination to adopt a firm attitude in the Far East. The convoy’s 10,000-mile journey was accomplished without losing a single life. The voyage was without incident except for the sinking of a ship which was forced to drop out of the convoy because of its slow speed. The luxiuy liner in which the men arrived picked up the survivors. A strong force of warships escorted the convoy for the greater part of its journey. All the units are completely equipped and have brought their own stores.