DECISIVE BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 December 1941, Page 5

DECISIVE BATTLE

BEING FOUGHT IN SOUTH KEDAH FATE OF PENANG BASE AT STAKE. HOPES OF COMING BRITISH COUNTER-ATTACK. (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) SINGAPORE, December 16. The first decisive battle of the new war in the Pacific is being fought in south Kedah. It would be wrong to attach too great importance to it, because it will not affect the fate of Singapore itself, but it is sufficiently important to attract world attention because it affects the ownership of the island base of Penang. The Japanese strategy is apparently directed towards securing bases on the Indian Ocean side of the Malay Peninsula from which to operate against Allied shipping from Africa, India and Australia. They have already secured Victoria Point and now all the forces available are being thrown against inferior numbers of British troops. The British efforts are concentrated on holding a narrow front until the forces are ready for a counter-attack. There are indications that preparations are being made for such a move, designed to hurl the Japanese back to Thailand and so long as the Japanese are prevented from bringing reinforcements to bear there are good prospects of success. A communique refers to the fanatical determination of the Japanese, causing them the heaviest casualties. This gives rise to a hope that the Japanese drive will become spent early, especially if our air and sea forces are able to interrupt supplies and reinforcements. Reports from the front reveal that the main brunt of the Japanese thrust across the border is being borne by English county regiments, as well as Indian units which have fought with conspicuous gallantry. The Japanese are using light tanks, which are manoeuvrable easily in this part of the country. The Legislative Council passed a Bill providing the death penalty or life imprisonment - for looting, rioting or treachery.