MALAYAN FRONT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 January 1942, Page 4

MALAYAN FRONT

GENERAL WAVELL’S VISIT AT TIME OF SLIM RIVER BATTLE. STRICT SECRECY OBSERVED. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) SINGAPORE, January 18. When General Sir Archibald Wavell visited advanced front line areas of the Malayan front on January 8, he conferred with senior officers at advanced headquarters. Soon after the Japanese tank attack in the Slim River area, he met officers and men who had participated in the Slim River battle and listened intently to their descriptions of the fighting and the Japanese methods. It was subsequently learned that the Japanese were much nearer the British headquarters at that time than was generally realised and General Wavell and his party were actually in some danger of being cut off by the advancing enemy. The General s presence in Malaya was a well kept secret. There was absolutely no whisper in Singapore or in the front areas. General Wavell <■ left, with his staff, for his Netherlands East Indies headquarters yesterday. SINGAPORE RAIDS MAINLY ON OUTSKIRTS OF CITY. CASUALTIES IN NATIVE SECTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) SINGAPORE, January 18. Big forces of Japanese planes raided Singapore this morning. The Japanese are still directing their main attack on the outskirts of the city. British fighters went up and were seen to be pursuing Japanese bombers at a great height. Yesterday’s casualties are now believed to be higher than was pieviously estimated. First aid posts worked throughout the night digging out victims. The scene worst civilian casualties was a congested native section in which live as many as forty to fifty people in a single house. Three R.A.A.F. fighter pilots took on 24 Japanese bombers high over South Malaya yesterday and the whole enemy force was effectively dispersed and driven away from its targets. One Japanese bomber probably was shot down. AMBOINA ISLAND OCCUPIED BY JAPANESE. ACCORDING TO BERLIN RADIO. (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, January 18. The Berlin radio this afternoon announced that the Japanese had landed on Amboina Island and later declared that the Japanese had occupied the port and capital of Amboina after a brief resistance. Japanese planes and a light cruiser participated in the operations. MALAYAN WEAKNESS DUE TO PRE-WAR FAILURE. VIEWS OF BRITISH CRITIC. LONDON, January 17. The reasons for the disqueting events in the Far East can be traced to a pre-war source, said LieutenantCommander R. T. Fletcher (Labour M.P.) in a speech. It had been officially laid down after consultation with Australia long before the war, he said, that the defence of Australia must be based on the maintenance of a capital ship fleet at Singapore. From that day till the arrival of the Prince of Wales and Repulse not a single capital ship was in those waters.

The pre-war Government could be blamed for this because that Government, as a result of apathy, neglected to provide what it had been agreed was the linchpin of the Pacific defence. There was no wonder that the present position had arisen. CONTINUED OUTCRY IN THE CHINESE PRESS. BRITAIN AND AMERICA CRITICISED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CHUNGKING, January 16. Official newspapers, presumably reflecting the views of the Government, launched bitter attacks against Britain and America, accusing President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill of planning only perfunctory defence of the Far East while concentrating on the destruction of Hitlerism in Europe, leaving China to defend herself in Asia. A suspicion is voiced in the newspapers that Washington and London do not intend sending adequate reinforcements to Singapore, the East Indies and the Philippines.