Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1942. THE TRAGEDY OF SINGAPORE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 February 1942, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1942. THE TRAGEDY OF SINGAPORE.

0 JN the admittedly incomplete extent to which it was dealt with by 31 r Churchill in the speech in the House of Commons reported today, the story of the loss of Singapore is that of a great disaster which it might have been hoped, in light of what was and is known of the preceding circumstances, at least greatly Io modify. All other questions apart, a good many people in Britain, Australia and other Dominions and India no doubt will want to know, with the Labour member who sought information on the subject in the House of Commons, why, if the island fortress could not be held, it was not possible to save at least part of the garrison. Lord Cranbourne has stated that it was believed by the United Kingdom Government, and also by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand., that Singapore could be held for a considerable time. As Mr Churchill said, the fact that it was found possible to send nine convoys to Singapore, conveying reinforcements of 40,000 men and a large amount of equipment, would have been regarded as a great achievement had the outcome been other than it was. The eirumstances of the fall of Sinpagore must raise nevertheless some doubts regarding the competence of British war leadership and direction in this vital instance, and in themselves will go far to account for changes in the British War Cabinet having been deemed necessary. The matter can hardly be regarded as over and done with as it stands, though the commanding immediate aim of course must be to strengthen and invigorate the national Avar effort. At the right time attention evidently must centre on the question of whether the sacrifice of the whole garrison was inevitable. On this point Mr Churchill appears to have had little more to say than that the Japanese claimed to have captured 73,000 prisoners in Singapore but that this exceeded the numbers of our forces in the island. The transfer of any large part of these forces to Java, had it been found practicable, might have changed greatly for the better whatever prospects there are of withstanding successfully the enemy onslaught on that island. Deep concern will be felt in all parts of the Empire for the fate of the gallant troops taken prisoner in Singapore. The British Prime Minister stated that the consent of the Japanese Government had to be obtained before food parcels could be sent to these prisoners. The greatest possible efforts clearly must be made by the Governments of the Empire to do what is possible to lighten the fate of the men who fought so ■bravely in defence of the island fortress.

As a whole the demand for clearer light on the circumstances in which Singapore was lost and on other aspects of the campaign in the South-Western Pacific, is likely to be limited only by a ruling and universal determination that the war, in the Pacific and elsewhere, shall be prosecuted with all the power, vigour and resolution of which as a nation we are capable. In the extent to which they are visible the facts certainly are well calculated to put the nation on its mettle.