HELD AT PERAK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 303, 23 December 1941, Page 5

HELD AT PERAK

BRITISH STAND FAST Loss Of Aerodromes In Other Malaya Sectors United Press Association.—Copy rig-lit. Rec. noon. SINGAPORE, Dec. 22. A communique issued at mid-day, says: "In Perak our troops continue to hold the position around Kuala Kangsar. There was a further battle on the Grik road yesterday, where the enemy has been using the Perak River to bring reinforcements by raft. Our troops engaged the enemv and inflicted heavy casualties." It was reported earlier that in the north-east of Malaya the Briti&h forces have withdrawn from part of Kelantan State, between Kota Bharu and a point 40 miles to the south. They are about 300 miles from Singapore. The withdrawal, it is stated in Singapore, became necessary because of the loss of aerodrome facilities in the north of Kelantan and a threat to British communications. A Singapore communique states that it is now possible to announce that a planned withdrawal has been successfully carried out on the Kelantan front, in north-east Malaya. Owing to the loss of aerodrome facilities in northern Kelantan and the vulnerability of the communications it was decided some days ago to withdraw from the area to north of Kualakrai. This operation, involving a series of carefully co-ordinated movements by night, nas been successfully carried out by the military commander concerned. During the last few days the enemy's land and air forces have attempted to interfere with the withdrawal, but in spite of this the greater part of the force and the majority of the stores and equipment have been brought out. British troops in the north-west have withdrawn to the region of Lenggong, the centre of the Malayan tin industry, about 25 miles south of Grik. The Japanese are making progress at heavy cost down the Perak River. The Singapore communique to-day states that in Perak British troops continue to hold positions around Lenggong. There has been a further battle on the Grik road, at a point where the Japanese have been using the river to bring up reinforcements by barges. There was no air activity over Malaya during the night. Kaala Lumpur Raided Japanese aircraft yesterday raided the Kuala Lumpur area, 190 miles north-west of Singapore. They were -successfully engaged by our antiaircraft and fighter defences, which shot down one enemy aeroplane and probably destroyed another. One of our aircraft was lost, but the pilot is safe. Enemy aircraft on Saturday raided Kuantan, nearly 200 miles north of Singapore. This report may indicate that this aerodrome has again changed hands, because it is understood that the Japanese secured control some days ago from small British defending forces. Allied shipping has been warned that Singapore is a closed port at night.