SINGAPORE'S WAR

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13426, 27 August 1941, Page 2

SINGAPORE'S WAR

BATTLE WITH MOSQUITOES WORK OF THE ROYAL NAVA* Were it not for the efficiency and heroism of the personnel of His "Majesty’s Navy, it is more than possible that Singapore would not to-day be the great coping-stone of Britain’s Pacific defence system that it is.

Before the giant docks could be built, the “Raffles city” saw a 10years’ war waged against deadly foes which numbered themselves in millions of millions.

The Royal Navy has all along been fighting tooth and nail against three native tribes —Anopheles maculatus. Anopheles umbrosus and Anopheles ludlowi —mosquitoes with the dreaded malaria germ in their bite. It was these creatures which caused 40 00 cases of malaria in three months, holding up the work of building the new docks. Diggingdown into the soil, keeping back the ocean, these were light tasks compared with destroying the mosquitoes. A Jungle Battlefield It was done in spite of the Malayan jungle on every hand. Over an area of 20 00 acres the desperate fight was waged, the campaign being conducted in part by Surgeon-Cap-tain D. H. C. Given. The battleground was largely swamp, and the odds against success were high, but bit by bit the insects were tracked down. Oil was sprayed on every pool and ditch.

For all that, conquests were made here, only to prepare the way for defeat there for it was found that the condtions which destroyed one kind of mosquito were ideal for the breeding of another. At one time the hospital stai? had 900 patients, though they had beds for only 12 0, but the fight went on, and at last the scourge was conquered.