GENERALS CONFER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 87, 23 January 1942, Page 4

GENERALS CONFER.

ALLIED CAMPAIGN IN MALAYA. FRESH PICKED ENEMY TROOPS. (Rec. 1.15 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Jan. 22. Decisions profoundly affecting the future of the fighting m North. Johore are believed to have boon taken at a conference of generals held at a rubber plantation in Malaya, on "Wednesday. Major-General Gordon Bennett (Commander of the Australians) indicated to interviewers that lie was anxious concerning the Imperial left flank in the Muar area where these troops are now fighting in tense action. The Japanese have brought up fresh picked troops to this area and the fighting lias reached a vital stage. A report that the Australians were within a lew miles of the Japaneseheld Muar was premature, says an Associated Press correspondent. Alention of Hurricane fighters having shot down five Japanese raiders over Singapore yesterday indicates that air reinforcements are arriving in Malaya. This is the first time Hurricanes have been reported in action, at Singapore. Japanese boinlijs almost demolished the principal Catholic church in Singapore and other churches have suffered severely. The Courthouse was wrecked and many other public buildings and two schools received direct hits from bombs.