BATTLE FOR MALAYA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 January 1942, Page 4

BATTLE FOR MALAYA

FIRST MAJOR PHASE OVER

BRITISH WITHDRAWAL

DETERMINED STAND ON SHORTER

FRONT LIKELY

ißy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) NEW YORK, January 15.

The “New York Times” Singapore correspondent says the first major phase of the battle for Malaya has concluded and the second will soon be underway. The first phase was characterised by the delaying withdrawal of the British down the peninsula, necessitated by the numerical inferiority of air, naval and land forces. The second phase will consist of a determined stand on a' shorter front in Southern Malaya, where the British will use fresh forces. The R.A.F., operating from bases in Southern Malaya, will not only take care of the defence of Singapore Island and its immediate environs, upon which it has had to concentrate recently but it will make its power felt in co-operation with the troops at the front. The British will have the advantage of short lines of communications and enough troops for defence in depth against Japanese infiltration tactics. The Japanese will be hampered by long lines of communication, mostly running close along the Malayan west coast, off which they have only minor seapower. The British will be able to harass communications and develop guerilla raiding of the entire length of the Japanese penetration of Malaya. It should be one of the world's greatest battles. HEAVY RAID ON RABAUL AND OTHER OBJECTIVES. ENEMY AIR ACTIVITY IN NEW GUINEA AREA. (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 15. The Tokio radio reported that the Japanese heavily bombed Rabaul and other objectives on Gilolo Isle and Western New Guinea. IRRITANT GAS REPORTED USE BY JAPANESE. IN THE KHOTABARU AREA. (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 15. A senior officer of the British troops in Malaya has reported that the Japanese used an irritant gas, possibly mustard gas, in the Khotabura area. He said that only one unit of the Indian troops experienced the gas. which caused burns where it touched the skin. AMBOINA ISLAND AGAIN BOMBED BY ENEMY. (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON. January 15. A Batavia message reports that Japanese planes again bombed Amboina Island. No details of damage or of casualties have been received.