CONSTANT RAIDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 February 1942, Page 3

CONSTANT RAIDS

AN ACCEPTED FEATURE IN SINGAPORE STEADY COURAGE SHOWN BY CHINESE. , i WORK CONTINUED IN SPITE OF BOMBS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, February 3. The morning and afternoon raids are becoming an accepted feature of Singapore’s life, and evidence is accumulating that all are determined to carry on essential tworks, states a message from the island. Everywhere may be seen “business as usual” signs. Among the non-Europeans the Chinese and Eurasians are showing the greatest capacity to “take it.” The Chinese heavily outnumber all the other nationalities, and therefore their conduct is a valuable steadying factor among the non-Europeans. The Chinese labour forces are apparently ready and willing to work in dangerous areas, in spite of frequent air attacks, and the Chinese shop assistants carry on during the alerts till the “planes overhead” signal is given. The Eurasian girls’ calm demeanour in the times of danger has won them high praise. The aeronautical writer of the “Daily Telegraph” says that since the airfields at Singapore' are now within range of enemy shellfire or within the range of enemy short-range bombers, it must be assumed that direct defence of the island by fighters based on Singapore itself has ceased. A military spokesman in Chungking quoting intelligence reports, said today that the entire Japanese eighteenth division was annihilated in Malaya. More than 10,000 urns containing the ashes of the Japanese dead had reached Saigon.