Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1950. DRIVE IN MALAYA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 100, 10 February 1950, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1950. DRIVE IN MALAYA

Although the terrorists in Malaya do not appear to be as active as they were a few months ago, they are still a constant source of trouble and annoyance, and special steps are to be taken to endeavour to stamp them out. This information was contained in a message sent by a Reuter-N.Z.-P.A. correspondent, who said that tens of thousands of Chinese, Malay. Indian, Sakai Aboriginals and Europeans were being organised .foi; an' all-out drive against the guerillas and their helpers, who have now been ravaging the country for upwards of 20 months. The extent of the terrorist campaign can be judged from the fact that already no fewer than 14,000 British troops and 13,000 regular and auxiliary troops are already in action, to say nothing of half a dozen R.A.F. Squadrons, which have been relentlessly bombing guerilla strongholds. Numerically the terrorists may not equal the forces opposed to them, but their greatest asset is the jungle hinterland, which is similar to that which made the task of defeating the Japanese so difficult. The terrorists appear to have planned their campaign well, for they have never really been short of supplies and food. Now, however, in this all-out drive, it is planned to corner all supplies and strongly guard them to prevent attempting to secure food by force. According to the special correspondent, the leaders of 168 trade unions in Malaya have pledged the support in the drive of their 42,000 members. The trade union movement has voiced its opposition to the doctrines “which the Communists wish to fdtce upon the country” and has called on all workers to show the Orang Jahat (wicked men) that 'they are against their “ways of muidei and plunder and their rule of feai and terrorism in the jungle.” Malaya’s Boy Scouts are active m the preparations for “the month and a feature of the early reports has been the interest shown by women and their desire to take an active part. Chinese, Malay ana Indian community leaders have joined in the spirit of the scheme and observers say “the month shows promise of being the most concerted national effort of its kind since the Home Guard . was organised in Britain at a critical stage of World War 11. Because of the nature of the country, even this intensified drive may not completely rid the country of the menace, but it should considerably reduce it.