ATTACK ON HONG KONG

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23509, 11 December 1941, Page 5

ATTACK ON HONG KONG

JAPANESE FORCES HALTED ADVANCE ON KOWLOON STOPPED (Received December XO, 7 p.m.) HONG KONG, December 9. The Japanese land assault on Hong Kong began at dawn on-Monday, reports a correspondent of the Associated Press of America. It was countered immediately and heavy road and railway demolitions were completed in two hours. The Japanese then felt the blasts of heavy artillery from the deCanadian troops were in great fettle, helping to bring the Japanese to a sudden halt. , British warships

beat off Japanese bombers with antiaircraft fire. . , , ... . A British communique states that-at Hong Kong artillery halted the Japanese advance on Kowloon. After beating off three air raids, Hong Kong was on the alert for air attacks throughout the day. No ships have been hit. The Japanese claim to have occupied British possessions in the vicinity of Shanghai, as well as the International Settlement. An earlier communique from Hong Kong staled that the night had been quiet. Contact was maintained with the enemy at Taipo and along the new territories road, with patrol activity on both sides. No air raids occurred. A Chinese company of sappers had taken a leading and admirable part in the operation. , , . A Bren gun earner patrol ambushed and annihilated a party of Japanese. An enemy scout came into contact with a British marine with disastrous consequences to himself. National Service Bill.—A special meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party decided by a large majority to support the second reading of the National Service Bill. The leader, Mr C. R. Attlee, after the vote, said that he expected the minority to honour the majority’s decision. —London, December 9.