SERIOUS LOSS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 January 1942, Page 3

SERIOUS LOSS

ADMITTED IN WASHINGTON Hopes of Defending Manila Bay AND PREVENTING ENEMY USE OF’HARBOUR THE. JAPANESE ADVANCE FROM LINGAYEN LONDON, January 2. Japanese troops entered Manila early this morning’. Announcing this, a United States War Department communique states that all American and Filipino troops were withdrawn from the city several days ago. Many wounded soldiers were got away from the Manila area on Wednesday. A Navy Department communique reports that the naval base at Cavite, 15 miles south of Manila, has also been evacuated. All stores and equipment were removed and industrial and other facilities destroyed. The War Department communique admits that the loss of Manila is serious, but says that strong positions north and south of the city are effectively held and that it is hoped to hold the fortress of Corregidor and other defensive positions in Manila Bay, thus preventing the enemy using the harbour. Manila has a population of 600,000. It has been occupied by the Japanese 24 days after their landings at Lingayen and Lipari. In their southward advance since that date the Japanese have covered a distance of some 260 miles. HELP FOR MALAYA EVERY INCH OF GROUND TO BE FOUGHT Help on a considerable scale is on its way to Malaya. This was announced in a special communique issued by General Sir Henry Pownall, Commander-in-Chief in the Far East. He said it was intended to fight every inch of ground down the Malay Peninsula. . Today’s Singapore communique reports renewed activity on the main Perak front, and also in southern Perak, where the enemy have made a landing. There is no confirmation in London of a Japanese claim to have broken through our defences on the Perak front. The Singapore radio, referring to the new Japanese landing in southern Perak, says there is no indication that there has been a landing in force. Reports suggest that the landing has been made by suicide squads in an attempt to destroy communications. Japanese planes attempted to make a daylight raid on Singapore today. British fighters went up and anti-aircraft gun fire was heard, but no enemy planes appeared over the city. British aircraft last night made a low level attack on an enemy occupied aerodrome in Malaya. The runways were bombed and bombs fell amid- aircraft on the ground. Two were set on fire. Picked Chinese troops are moving into Burma. This was officially confirmed by General Wavell’s New Delhi headquarters. They will be under General Wavell’s command.