AERODROMES RAIDED

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23535, 13 January 1942, Page 3

AERODROMES RAIDED

26 ENEMY MACHINES DESTROYED AIR ACTIVITY IN MALAYA I (Received January 12, 11 P-m.) LONDON, January 12. , British and American aircraf * °| er ’ t ating from Burma have scoredl a * smashing success in raids on occupied aerodromes in northern Malaya, states a report fro? Rangoon. At least 26 a ' rc f ft ' I . nclud d ing 10 bombers, were destroyed, and probably more. One British aircraft machines dropped X ) bombs on the Burmese town of Moulmem. 100 miles east of Rangoon. The aitack was made from a height of 4000 feet. Thirty bombs were dropped. O ne P^ 1 son was killed and two injured. Some damage was done. „ ir There has been considerable air activity on both sides in Malaya, craft being on / econ "“ 16 a s f r craA patrol all day. Japanese aircralj at tacked a railwas station at Tebong, _ miles north of Singapore. Seven p sons were killed, 20 injured, ' damage was done to the tracx.. A news agency message from Singa pore speaks of the al*gUerof British, Indian, and Australian guer rilla troops behind the Japanese lines. The agency says the operations these guerrillas have been a well-kept military secret, but they have b extremely .successful. Aus rahan bu hj have been particularly successful in this jungle fighting.

Italian Losses,-It is reported from Berne that Italian casualties m North Africa during December a»e■stated SSS, t0 oA G^ce--407 wounded. —London, January 11.

DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA

TROOPS FROM U.S. AND BRITAIN STATEMENT BY MR CURTIN (Received January 12, 7 p.m.) LONDON, January 11. The Prime Minister of Australia (Mr J. Curtin) announced to-day that British and American troops were being sent to Australia. These men would strengthen the fighting personnel In the Commonwealth. Mr Curtin also said that encouraging reports had been received from Washington concerning the strengthening of the defences in the Pacific. Australia would play a large part in strategy in the Pacific and as a result of the reports he had received he was confident that Australia would be able to resist to the utmost. Commenting on "fears and doubts regarding Australia’s immediate security, the Minister for the Navy and Munitions (Mr N. J. O. Makin) said: "There are to-day concentrations of power which I believe can secure us from any menace. We shall be able to resist to the utmost any intrusion made on the safety of this continent.” He added that encouraging reports of the fulfilment of promises made at Washington had been received. From both Britain and America more reinforcements would come as soon as possible to add to the protection of this continent and for theatres of war In the Far East. The “New York Times” m a leading article says: "Darwin is ideally situated as a base for operations of the United States forces in the Far East, since it can be safely reached from the Australian east coast through the wellmined Barrier channel." It describes Darwin’s transformation from a mere hamlet to a well-pro-tected fortress and the centre of an air network connecting the continent with Singapore and the Netherlands East Indies. It gives a warning, however, that Darwin’s usefulness is dependent upon the speed and power with which the United States moves its forces in.