REAL THREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 January 1942, Page 3

REAL THREAT

POSITION IN MALAYA CRITICAL AUSTRALIAN TROOPS TRAINED FOR JUNGLE FIGHTING. MESSAGE FROM COMMANDER. LONDON, January 15. There is now general recognition in London that the threat to Singapore is critical and the outlook in Malaya likely to remain grave. Unofficial reports from Singapore say that the Japanese are making more rapid progress than the latest official British statements indicate. Official reports continue to be vague and uninformative.

It is (later) announced from Singapore that Australian troops went into action this morning in the State of Negri Sembilan (which extends 50 miles northward of Tampin). This is the first official mention of Australians fighting in Malaya. This jnorning’s action is described as a local engagement.

The impending battle for southern Malaya will test the theory which is widely held here that the Japanese can be countered with the weapons they have been using since the start of their operations, namely, to filter as the enemy is filtering and to penetrate behind his lines if necessary as he penetrates behind ours. The British strategy so far has been confined within the limits imposed by the shortage of men and the vulnerable lines of communication, and for that reason there has been a series of “contact withdrawals.”

Since the outset the British strategy has been to save men as far as possible till reinforcements permitted a decisive battle.

Furthermore, the Imperial force will now be better protected in the air against the Japanese bombers, which have been a most serious problem for the troops operating further north. A Singapore message dated January 14 states: The A.I.F. troops, who have been moved to the front line, have been trained for months past for jungle guerilla warfare, and they are planning to employ this form of attack against the Japanese.and meet the enemy with his own weapons. Major-General Bennett, the Australian commander, stated: “The Australians have been here for nine months and have studied the type of warfare that is believed to be the best in this type of country. They are guerillas by nature and training, and now the chance has come to discover whether their belief is correct. They are going in full of confidence, feeling that they know the answer to the Japanese problem, and they are glad to play their part.

“The force consists not only of Australians, but also Indian and British troops, the majority of whom have been in the fighting since the start. They need -a rest, and therefore the heavier responsibility rests on the fresh Australians.

“The Australians are undoubtedly better than the Japanese man for man. This is not man for man: It is a man for many men; but that does not perturb us. have qualities outweighing that. “When the Jap meets these splendidly fit men he will get a shock. We know the Japanese are not so good as many believe. In spite of our fewer numbers we hope not only to stop the Japanese but at the earliest date to put them on the defensive.” The movement of the A.I.F. from former positions to the battle front without casualty is one of the great stories of Malaya. In the three days of the movement not a single bomb fell upon the miles of convoys of troop trains either taking the A.I.F. to the line or moving British and Indian troops to the rear. Throughout January 13, when the trains and convoys were approaching the most forward positions, the heaviest storm for weeks began in the early morning and continued throughout the day. This cancelled all air activity and allowed the switch-over to proceed in an almost leisurely manner.

There was no wild hilarity. Every member of the force realised what he is up against. Everyone is ready to give of his best. Major-General Bennett, at his temporary headquarters, told interviewers: “This is my toughest job. It won’t be a stand-up battle. It is going to be silent and secret. We will see whether we are able to give them something to think about.”