JAPANESE OFFENSIVE GETTING UNDER WAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 January 1942, Page 4

JAPANESE OFFENSIVE GETTING UNDER WAY

Fighting in More Open Country PROVING COSTLY TO THE ENEMY LANDINGS IN SOUTHERN PERAK MADE FROM SMALL CRAFT (By Telegraph.—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) SINGAPORE, January 2 ; A revival of activity on the Perak front seems to indicate that the Japanese second offensive is getting under way. General Headquarters are well prepared in advance for such a move. Dispositions have been made to meet the threat wherever it comes. , Fighting is now taking place m more open country, not affording the Japanese much opportunity for employing the cover of jungle and rubber plantations. The Japanese so far have shown a great dislike for fighting in open country. They prefer always to fight in the thickest jungle, a form of combat at which they have shown themselves most efficient. Wherever they have encountered British troops in open country their cas-, ualties have been very high. There is still very little activity on the east coast. "- ua “' tan remains the scene of minor patrol encounters, in which the Indian defenders are excelling. The British forces fighting on the north-western front are at present threatened from the rear by Japanese units which have effected a landing from small craft in the region of the mouth of the Perak River.