DEFENCE OF SINGAPORE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 January 1942, Page 4

DEFENCE OF SINGAPORE

ENEMY SEA AND LAND APPROACH Stern Struggle in Prospect COAST THAT GIVES COVER FOR LANDINGS BRITISH AIR FORCES STRENGTHENED (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Dav, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY, January 21. It is stated authoritatively in London that the Japanese in Malaya appear to be developing their main thrust for Muar towards the British communications running north and south. On January 19 there was extensive enemy air activity over the area east and south-east of Muar and strong enemy pressure was exerted along the road south-west and south-east of Muar. The Japanese main forces appear to be some 70 miles from Singapore. The increasing threat to Singapore is a cause of much anxiety in London, especially the news of Japanese operation along the Malacca coast, on the flank of the defenders'. “The Times’’ says: “That the enemy can throw troops ashore with impunity from waters to which his naval squadrons cannot yet have penetrated, and under air protection alone, is at first sight startling. Those who are familiar with the curious topography of this region will find it easier to understand, for the low-lying coast of mangrove swamps offers hiding places in its numerous creeks to small fishing boats seized by the Japanese. They can lie up there during the day and have no doubt assembled there to launch attacks under cover of the recent moonless nights. They are protected from interference by destroyers by a belt of shallow water, extending no less than fifteen miles from the shore, and from destruction by Eboats by the absence of a neighbouring base from which these short-range craft might operate. They would be more vulnerable from the air, but in this element unhappily local superiority has been with their side.’’ “The Times’’ foresees a stern contest as the territory in front of Singapore is contracted. “As fighting approaches the fortress,” it observes, “the effectiveness of the fighter aircraft based on the island itself is enhanced, and there is welcome news today that the R.A.F. in Malaya has received a considerable accession of strength and is exercising its new power in a vigorous counter-attack. In many other respects there has been, since the outbreak of the Japanese war, time for reinforcement of the Singapore defences, and it is to be presumed that advantage has been taken of it. To judge from the newspapers, the people of Singapore and Johore confront the worst the enemy can do with resolution. And other reports confirm that this is true of all the races of the State and city, who have shown a single determination to maintain the.fight for the defence of their homes and against invaders whose battle cry of ‘Asia for the Asiatics’ is known to mean Asia for the Japanese.”