BORNEO LANDING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 December 1941, Page 5

BORNEO LANDING

OIL WELLS & REFINERIES DESTROYED HEAVY JAPANESE LOSSES IN MALAYA. SUCCESSES OF ALLIED SUBMARINES. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, December 17. A communique issued in Singapore states that enemy landings have taken place at Miri and Subon, in Sarawak, North-Western Borneo, from which local detachments had earlier been withdrawn after having completed the destruction of the oil refineries, wells and other materials in both oil.fields. The communique also states that in Malaya fighting continues in southern Kedah, roughly' on a line of the Rivei’ Mthla. On the Kalaman front there was only patrol activity during the night, though there is reason to believe that enemy reinforcements are arriving. No air activity has been reported. A Singapore communique issued a few hours earlier stated that the Japanese were pressing southward from Thailand, fighting with fanatical determination, which caused them heavy casualties. The Governor of Singapore, Sir Shenton Thomas, in a statement declared: “Singapore must not fall. It shall not fall!”

Admiral Hart, commander of the United States Asiatic Fleet, announced in Manila today that American submarines have made two successful attacks. The Batavia newspaper “Handelsblad” also reports that Dutch submarines have sunk a Japanese tanker, freighter and four troopships. Admiral Hart said three United States submarines were involved in attacks against the Japanese. Two were successful and one failed. He declined to elaborate his statement. It is announced in Tokio that probably 20 American submarines are in operation in the waters round Japan.