HEAVY LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1941, Page 5

HEAVY LOSSES

INFLICTED ON THE JAPANESE IN MALAYA No Enemy Landings Yet Made in Netherlands Indies HOSTILE WARSHIPS APPEAR OFF MANILA BAY /DRIVEN OFF BY FIRE OF COASTAL GUNS LONDON, December 30. The latest news from the Far East speaks of heavy losses suffered by the Japanese in Malaya and the presence of Japanese warships off Manila Bay. There has also been widespread fighting in Central China. s A Singapore communique states that the Japanese suffered Wvy casualties in attacks, made by strong forces along the Perak River, which were repulsed. Elsewhere in Malaya there is no change. British aircraft have carried out successfully a number of reconnaissance flights. Japanese warships which appeared off the entrance to Manila Bay were driven off by the fire of the Correigdor fortress. A Batavia communique states that Japanese aircraft are still bombing and machine-gunning a number of small places in the Netherlands Indies. The Commander-in-Chief in the Netherlands Indies, Lieutenant-General Ter Poorten, said that any landing attempt by the Japanese among the maze of islands would be very difficult. So far no Japanese troops had landed on Netherlands East Indies territory. Singapore had four air raids last night but they caused little damage and only four casualties are reported. Martial law has been proclaimed in Singapore. In Melbourne today a Government spokesman said that in the last three days there had been a great improvement in the Far East position as it affected Australia. Although details of defence plans could hot be disclosed they were heartening.