HEAVY MOVEMENTS.

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

HEAVY MOVEMENTS.

JAPANESE IN WEST JOHORE. PROGRESS BY AUSTRALIANS. <Rec. 2 a.m.) LONDON, January 20. The Singapore correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that a heavy movement of troops and vehicles all along the border of western Joliore threatens the imminent resumption in tremendous force of the Japanese drive against Singapore.. The latest reports from the front 'ijidicate" that Australian troops are now within a few miles of Muar after cleaning up all the Japanese infiltration parties in the area to the south, says the Singapore correspondent of the Australian Associated Press. The capture of Muar would remove the menace to the left flank of the forces hiding in the area east of Gemas. Advanced Australian units in the Muar area, who were more or less surrounded, drew up guns and transport in a defensive circle, but a relief detachment arrived before the expected Japanese attacks. Tho advance on Muar was then continued. The Australian Minister of the Army (Mr F. M. Forde) to-day cabled MajorGeneral Bennett (Australian commander in Malaya) that he would not only continue to press for adequate air support for the Australians in Malaya, but would also try to reinforce their land strength. A later message received in Melbourne said that the situation was serious, particularly in view of the inadequate air support. '

SINGAPORE DEFENCES. NOTICE OF MOTION IN COMMONS. LONDON, Jan. 19. In the House of Commons last Thursday Mr Granville gave notice that if the position in the Far East is not debated at the next sitting of Parliament he intends to move an immediate adjournment to discuss the “unsatisfactory state of affairs with regard to the defence of Singapore and Australia, which is gravely threatening the communications and security of the British Empire; also the lack of official information here, and particularly in Australia, about what is happening in the Far East.” Mr Granville notified the Speaker that instead of his original motion he will move the adjournment of the House “to discuss the urgent state of affairs in regard to tho defence of Singapore and Malaya, and to ask for assurances to the peoplo of Britain, Australia and the Empire generally that the Government is doing everything possible to defend and secure this vital communication of the British Empire.”—British Official Wireless. JAPANESE CLAIMS DISCOUNTED. m LONDON, January 20. It (s believed in London that, in spito of enemy claims, there aie no Japanese troops within 75 miles of Singapore. It is also learned that the situation in the Gemas and Endau areas has undergone no majoi change in the last 24 hours. Gemas is a junction on the railway to Singapore, where Australian troops were heavily attacked by strong Japanese forces. The Endau region is oil the east coast, and is separated from Gemas by hilly country.