NO AERODROMES HELD

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23537, 15 January 1942, Page 5

NO AERODROMES HELD

British Withdrawal v In Malaya LANDING GROUNDS AVAILABLE (Received January 14, 9 p.m.) LONDON, January 14. The withdrawal of the British forces from Kuala Lumpur and the establishment of a line some 40 miles south of this key rubber centre are now officially confirmed in London. As regards the air position in the Malay Peninsula, it is stated that although no aerodromes now remain in British hands in the peninsula there ore still several landing grounds, while in the island of Singapore itself there ere a number of aerodromes. Indian guerrillas are being specially trained and equipped for working effectively behind the enemy lines in Malaya, according to a message from New Delhi. One report states that they are incessantly harassing enemy transport and supplies. The activities of these gyerrillas are proving a considerable help to the movement of the Imperial troops. The war correspondent of the Tokyo newspaper “Asahi” is quoted by the Vichy News Agency as saying that British resistance in Malaya is increasing as the Japanese approach Singapore. Allied artillery is more active and is entrenched in better fortified positions. The Allied equipment has improved, indicating a great effort to slow down the Japanese advance. The Allied methods of destruction are also better, causing Japanese rehabilitation to take longer. Allied land mines laid in strategic zones and on roads have greatly increased in number. Japanese aircraft attacked an aerodrome north of Rangoon yesterday. No damage or casualties resulted. Elsewhere. Japanese attacks did little damage. One enemy machine was shot down in flames by a fighter patrol. British bombers dropped several tons of bombs on the Japanese base el Singora in eastern 'Thailand yesterday and also attacked other targets in Japanese-occupied Thailand. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground, and the engine of a railway train was blown up.