HEAVY PRESSURE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 85, 21 January 1942, Page 5

HEAVY PRESSURE

THE JAPANESE IN MALAYA. BRITISH ACTIVITY IN AIR SEVERAL TARGETS ATTACKED. I (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 20. A Singapore communique states: “The enemy is still maintaining heavy pressure on the entire front in Western Malaya, with the main thrust on the coastal belt of the Muarbata Pahat area. On the east coast there has been enemy patrol activity in the Endau area. Mersing was bombed and mach-ine-gunned yesterday with little result. “Yesterday in Johore, our anti-air-craft defence shot down three enemy aircraft. The total aircraft shot down to date by anti-aircraft-defence in the Malaya area are 41 certainties and 16 probables. “Yesterday afternoon fighter aircraft of the Far East Command carried out offensive sweept on : the Muar area. They machine-gunned and damaged a; number of barges that were disembarking troops from a small vessel at the mouth of the river. During the -sweep our fighters encountered and engaged a force of enemy aircraft and shot down a navy “Oav” fighter. Bomber aircraft carried out an attack on the aerodrome at Kuala Lumpur and other targets in the vicinity. Bomhs were seen to fall on the targets but detailed results were not observed. Other aircraft raided targets at Muar.. “Enemy aircraft raided Singapore this morning and bombs appear to have been dropped indiscriminately, falling to a large extent in residential areas. Some military damage was reported. Enemy aircraft which raided Singapore were intercepted by our fighters, who shot down one navy ‘O’ type and •one bomber, while another was probably destroyed. of our fighters are missing.'-—British Official Wireless