HEAVY FIGHTING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 86, 22 January 1942, Page 6

HEAVY FIGHTING

ACTIVITIES JN MALAYA. BOMBING BY ROYAL AIR FORCE. ARTILLERY CAUSES CASUALTIES. (Rec. 2.35 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 21. A communique issued at Singapore fitiatJs: “Heavy fighting continued throughout yesterday in the Bakri and Rukit Payong area, in north-west Johore. Enemy aircraft were active during the day, making low dive-bomb-ing and machine-gun attacks on our forward troops. Fighters which carried out offensive sweeps yesterday in the vicinity of Bakri in support of our troops encountered formations of the Army type 97, which jettisoned their bombs on being intercepted. One enemy aircraft was shot down. “In the Batu Pahat area contact with the enemy is slight. It is reported that during the actum in the Rukit Payong area our artillery inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy at short range over open sights. “On the east- coast, at Endau, an outpost, our troops have been withdrawn in the fact of superior enemy forces. Mersing was again bombed and machine-gunned yesterday, with slight, results. Reports now show that the force o enemy aircraft that raided Singapore yesterday consisted of about 90 bombers, escorted by fighters. r I he total casualties now reported are 64 killed and 154 injured. A number of heavy, successful attacks have been made on enemyoccupied aerodromes in Malaya duiing the night by the R.A.J. Extensive damage was’ done to enemy aircraft, hangars and the aerodrome building at Kuantan, which was twice raided. During the first attack bombs dropped from a low altitude caused considerable destruction on the aerodrome. Om aircraft during this raid were attacked by enemy fighters, but all returned safely. In a later attack on Kuantan, which was also made without loss, sticks of- bombs were dropped across the hangars and caused large files. Direct hits were made on aircraft.

“At Kuala Lantpur a successful bomb and machine-gun attack was made on the aerodrome and here also direct hits were made on aircraft, at least three of which were seen to be on fire. A number of other fires were started, including one which was seen to be increasing some time after the raid. One of our aircraft is missing from this operation. “Enemy aircraft again raided Singapore this morning and were intercepted by our fighters, which destroyed four and damaged a number of others. The bombing once more appeared to be indiscriminate, a large number of bombs falling on the residential areas. Details of the damage and casualties are not yet to hand. Twelve enemy aircraft have been destroyed over .Singapore to-day.”—British Official Wireless.