ENEMY AMBUSHED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 87, 23 January 1942, Page 3

ENEMY AMBUSHED

HEAVY FIGHTING IN JOHORE. AIR RAIDS ON SINGAPORE. HUNDRED PLANES ENGAGED. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 10.40 a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 22. An official communique from Singapoio states that in north-east Joliore there has been contact north of Mersing between enemy parties pushing south from Endau and our troops, who successfully ambushed part, of the enemy, inflicting a number of casualties with slight loss to our ourselves. In the west heavy fighting continues in the Bukit Payohg area.-Some patrol activity is reported in the area of Batu Pahat. Yesterday afternoon aircraft carried out a successful attack on enemy motor transport north of Parit Buiong. A number of bombs hit the roadway among the vehicles, many of which were destroyed or damaged. The remainder of the convoy was ma-chine-gunned from a low altitude. This morning another attack was made on enemy mechanised transport in the same area, a number of vehicles being completely wrecked and others damaged. Machine-gun attacks were carried out on staff cars and lorries. About 100 enemy aircraft took part in the air raid on Singapore. Some damage was done to military objectives, chiefly buildings. Slight casualties were reported. The majority oi the damage and casualties occurred in the residential areas. The casualties were 257 killed and 529 injured. Enemy aircraft raided Singapore today, but were intercepted by our fighters, which shot down five bombers and damaged one fighter.—British Official Wireless. WITHDRAWAL INDICATED. THE BRITISH AT ENDAU.

(Rec. 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 22. Mention in the Singapore communique this morning of enemy parties pushing south from Endau is taken in authoritative quartos in London to indicate that a further slight withdrawal on the cast coast of Malaya has been made by the British forces since the latest information had indicated that Endau'was still in the Impels of tho British. It is announced in London that among the regiments fighting in Malaya are the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, East Surreys and Leiccsters.—British Official' Wireless.