VITAL DECISIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 January 1942, Page 4

VITAL DECISIONS

AFFECTING FIGHTING IN JOHORE TAKEN AT CONFERENCE OF,GENERALS. BOMB DAMAGE IN SINGAPORE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) SINGAPORE. January 22. Decisions profoundly affecting the future of the fighting in North Johore are believed to have been taken at a conference of generals held at a rubber plantation in Malaya on Wednesday. General Bennett indicated to interviewers that he was anxious concerning the Imperial left flank, in the Muar area. These troops are now fighting a tense action. The Japanese £ave brough up fresh picked troops to this area and fighting has reached a vital stage.

The report that the Australians were within a few miles of Japanese-held Muar was premature, says an Associated Press correspondent. Mention of Hurricane fighters having shot down five Japanese raiders over Singapore yesterday indicates that air reinforcements are arriving in Malaya. This is the first time that Hurricanes have been reported in action at Singapore. Japanese bombs almost demolished the principal Catholic Church in Singapore. Other churches suffered severely. The courthouse was wrecked and many other public buildings and two schools received direct bomb hits. BUSINESS AS USUAL? CABLEGRAM FROM SINGAPORE. ORDERS FOR PINEAPPLES WANTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON This Day. An interesting business cablegram dispatched from Singapore yesterday and received by a firm here today, reads: “Send orders for execution if tonnage available.” It refers to pineapples.