FIGHTING IN KEDAH

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23515, 18 December 1941, Page 5

FIGHTING IN KEDAH

First Decisive Battle

STRUGGLE FOR PENANG

(Received December 17,11.30 p.m.) (U.P.A.-8.0.W.) SINGAPORE, Dec. 16. The first decisive battle of the new war in the Pacific is being fought in the south of Kedah. It would be wrong to attach too great importance to it, because it will not affect the fate of Singapore itself, but it is sufficiently important to attract world attention, because it affects the ownership of the island base of Penang. Japanese strategy, apparently, is directed towards securing bases in the Indian Ocean side of the Malay Peninsula, from, which to operate against Allied shipping from Africa, India, and Australia. The Japanese have already secured Victoria Point, and now all the forces available are being thrown against inferior numbers of British troops. The British efforts are concentrated on holding a narrow front until their forces are ready for a counter-attack. There are indications that preparations are being made for such a move, which is designed to hurl the Japanese back to Thailand, and so long as the Japanese are prevented from bringing reinforcements to bear, there are good prospects of success. Communiques refer to the fanatical determination of the Japanese, which is causing them the heaviest casualties, and this gives rise to the hope that the Japanese drive may become spent early, especially if British air and sea forces are able to interrupt supplies and reinforcements. Reports from the front reveal that the main brunt of the Japanese thrust across the border is being borne by English county regiments, as well as Indian units, which have fought with conspicuous gallantry. It is authoritatively stated that the A.I.F. has not yet gone into iiction against the enemy, although it is standing by in readiness for any attempted landing in the important sector which it is holding, The Japanese are using light tanks, which can be manoeuvred easily in this part of the country. Loss of Capital Ships From reports reaching London the serious effect of the loss of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse on the whole operations is seen. It seems likely that virtual control of the waters around Indo-China and the Gulf of Siam has passed to the Japanese. For this reason Japan’s task of landing and supplying her troops in northern and eastern Malaya has been rendered much easier than might have been hoped. The attitude adopted by Thailand has also greatly assisted the Japanese. As a result of the considerable forces which Japan has been able to land at Kota Bharu and at Sawi Bay, opposite Victoria Point, in southtrn Burma, Britain has been deprived of the use of two of the most important airfields, and the Japanese, presumably operating from Thailand, as well as from Indo-China, have been able to exercise a considerable degree of air control. As a result of all these factors the position in Malaya is seen to be serious. Very heavy fighting continues and it appears that tbe British forces are facing superior numbers at sev-

eral points. There appears to be an indication that the British forces may be forced back towards Singapore, and the land threat to this vital base would seem to be a real one. Residents and the garrison have been evacuated from Victoria Point, on the extreme point of Burma, according to informed circles in London. This means that a second important airfield on the Malaya Peninsula has been evacuated. ~ , Reliable news from Malaya is scarce, since it is stated that it is not possible for the various bodies of troops which are fighting there to keep touch with each other, owing to the difficult nature of the country. . The Japanese have greatly intensified operations since they captured the aerodromes at Victoria Point and at Kota Bharu. Operations Intensified Large-scale operations are developing, and fighting has been extremely heavy in the jungle. “The Times’’ in a leading article says: “There is no doubt that our forces in Malaya are operating under considerable difficulties. If it is asked how Japanese superiority has arisen so near Singapore, the answer must be that the defence of Singapore by troops was planned on the assumption of our superiority at sea, and at least equality in the air, neither of which at present “The present situation is due not only to the loss of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse, but to the attack against Pearl Harbour and American bases and fuelling stations further west. . “The immediate danger is not the capture of Singapore but its comparative neutralisation as a naval base and great commercial port. That alone represents a serious peril because a successful British and American counteroffensive against Japan must largely depend on our power to use Singapore freely and effectively. The Japanese are exploiting to the utmost their early advantages! Thus the time factor has become of immense importance." The main Japanese attack on Malaya was launched through southern Thailand, but there is no confirmation of the report that Thai forces are helping the Japanese. There is also no truth in the report that British forces crossed the Thai border from Burma. All news from Thailand has for some time come through Japanese sources, and is unreliable. A message from Bangkok slated that the Thai High Command had announced that British assaults had been repulsed, especially in the south, where the British troops sustained considerable damage and fled to Burma, abandoning their arms and ammunition. Japanese Imperial Headquarters claimed that Japanese forces destroyed an entire British mechanised division in Malaya. Raids on Bases Japanese army headquarters announced that army aeroplanes made a mass raid on bases In Burma and Malaya, inflicting severe damage. Two transports were sunk and another heavily damaged in a raid off the north-western coast of Malaya. The destruction of 100 trucks is also claimed. A new job has already been found for the ratings from the Repulse and Prince of Wales, some of whom are

now operating the ferry between Penang and the mainland. _ During the Japanese raids on Penang their aeroplanes not only bombed the island, but machine-gunned the waterfront, and then turned their attention to the ferries. A number of passengers and sailors were injured. The authorities decided to dispatch sailors from Singapore, who have now taken over the service, which they are maintaining at normal schedule in spite of threats of further attacks.