ENEMY PRESSURE MAINTAINED

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23541, 20 January 1942, Page 5

ENEMY PRESSURE MAINTAINED

British Withdrawal In Malaya

/! , JAPANESE THRUST IN BURMA

(Received Jammry II), 1] p. m .) (L.P.A.) I.ONDOX, January 19. The latest Singapore communique savs that the Japanese maintain their pressure on the Muar front on the AAest coast of Malaya and at Segamat, about 20 miles south-east of Gemas, on the railway running from Gemas through Kluang in Johore to Singapore. In the Muar area, the enemy succeeded in infiltrating a number of troops south on the coastal belt and some withdrawal was necessary to meet the new position. Aircraft of the Far East Command continue to attack enemy transport and shipping. In the Muar aiea, Bntisfi aircraft were attacked by enemy fighters which Avere in turn intercepted by British fighters. One enemy aircraft was destroyed, one was probably destroyed, and one was damaged. Three British aircraft were lost. It is now' confirmed that in yesterday’s air raids on Singapore, one enemy aircraft was shot down in addition to the two previously reported. Casualties aa ere 66 killed and 135 injured, most of them being ciA'ilians. Fighting continues in the Tenasserim area of Burma w’hich 250 Japanese penetrated tAvo days ago from Thailand. A communique from Rangoon says that Imperial forces are contesting the Japanese advance along the 22<mile road between Tavoy and Myittha. The apparent aim of the Japanese is to capture Tavoy, which would provide them >vith another air base from which to raid Rangoon and a naval base from which to attack shipping in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Of the fighting in the Philippines, there has l|een no news since it was announced that General MacArthur’s troops were fighting back magnificently in defence of their positions on the Bataan Peninsula, north-west of Manila. The Netherlands East Indies High Command announces: “Some details can now be given about an attack by Japanese bombers on Medan, m north Sumatra, on January 16. The attacks began at 2.52 p.m. Eight bombs were dropped, but there were no casualties and no damage. “On the morning of January 17 - v,en Japanese bombers attacked . e i rodromes in central Sumatra, caus--1 some damage. A number of persons were killed and about 30 were wounded.” The Berlin radio yesterday afternoon announced that the Japanese had landed at Amboina Island, in the Moluccas. Later it declared that the sistance. Japanese aeroplanes and a Japanese had occupied the port and light cruiser participated in the opcapital of Amboina after brief re- erations.