MALAYAN FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 January 1942, Page 4

MALAYAN FIGHTING

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS INFLICT HEAVY LOSSES FIGHTERS INTERCEPT ENEMY BOMBERS. RAIDS IN SINGAPORE AREA. (British Official WirelessJ (Received This' Day, 9.52 a.m.) RUGBY. January 29.

A Singapore official communique states: Reports now received from the east coast front show that a successful action was carried out by Australian troops, the enemy being caught between our forward elements and the fire of our artillery. Enemy casualties are estimated to be about 250, whilst ours were about 30. In this area our troops are in contact with the enemy about Ulu Sedili.

Yesterday on the centre sector of the front, a company of an Australian battalion successfully counter-attacked the enemy with bayonets. The enemy casualties were estimated at two hundred with, it is believerd, no loss to our troops. In this sector our troops are in contact with the enemy in the Layang-Layang area. There was considerable enemy air activity in this area throughout yesterday. There is no change to report in the situation in the western sector. A further 570 of our troops who were cut off in the Batu Pahat area have now joined our main bodies.

No military damage was caused yesterday in raids made by enemy aircraft in the Singapore area. A formation of enemy bombers which approached Singapore Island in the morning was driven off by our fighter aircraft and forced to jettison their bombs. Reports indicate that as a result of this interception one enemy aircraft was destroyed and another probably destroyed. Other formations attacked targets on the island but reports of damage and casualties have not yet been received. In addition to one enemy aircraft' announced as damaged during Tuesday's raids on Singapore, one fighter was destroyed and one damaged. Reports now show that in the Singapore area oui’ anti-aircraft defences shot down for certain one enemy aircraft on January 27 and one on January 28.

CHINESE PREPARING

TO MEET ATTACK FROM BURMA. (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) CHUNGKING, January 29. The Chungking official radio announced that a communique states that Chinese troops are striking steadily at the Japanese railways and highways on a thousand mile front. A Government spokesman said the Chinese troops in Burma have not yet seen action but are taking up battle stations, preparing for the attack from Thailand.