BLACKED OUT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 291, 9 December 1941, Page 7

BLACKED OUT

SINGAPORE'S DEFENCE

Precarious Japanese Landings In Malaya

Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 8. <4 «?SiE3£dS,??S£ g g y %*s were intermittent alarms during the £ a Pr mese bombers atdrrveiToff reach Singapore but were _ P o^o ®swooped on Japanese atout^OOO 1 Smgapore and interned

The Columbia Radio states that Japanese planes attacked Singapore and sank two cruisers.

stated that the first attempted Japanese landing was made soon after 1 a.m. local time. It was repulsed by small arms fire .. Enemy troops succeeded in landing on a beach ne af_Stabek and were reported to be infiltrating toward Kola a £ n i dpon £' on *he east coast of the Malay Peninsula near the Thailand border. Land forces and aeroplanes engaged them and aeroplanes bombed enemy warships which attacked the town. , later announced from the north Malayan front that al! the f surface craft were retiring at high speed. The few troops left , on the beach were being heavilv machine-gunned. The Associated Press corresoonat Singapore says 300 Japanese troops landed at Padang Stabek, 13 miles south of Kota Bharu. Gunfire was reported off Mersing on the east coast 90 miles from Singapore. A Hudson aeroplane directly Kelan^River 1 ° f tr °° PS ° n The Commander-in-Chief, Far Chief-Marshal Sir Robert .R ham - ln an order of the Japan's action to-day gives a signal for the Empire army, naval and air forces with our Allies to go into actum with a common aim and ideals. We have had plenty of warning. Preparations have been made and tested.

not forget at this moment the years of patience and forbearance in which we have borne with digmty and discipline the pettv wsults and insolences inflicted upon us by the Japanese. We know those aon ? only because Japan thought she could take advantage cf our supposed weakness. Now. when Japan herself has decided to put 'he matter to a sterner test, she will find has made a grievous mistake. ' What of the enemy? We see before us a Japan drained for years past by the claims from her wanton onslaught on China. We see Japanese trade and industry so dislocated by years of reckless adventure that in a mood of desperation her Government plunges her to war under the delusion that by stabbing a friendly nation in the back she can gain her ends.

"We here in Hie Far East form part of the great campaign for the preservation of truth, justice and freedom. Confidence, resolution, enterprise and devotion to the cause must and will inspire every one of us to present a bold front to the enemy and place our faith in final victory."

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