FIRST BOMBING OF PENANG

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23541, 20 January 1942, Page 6

FIRST BOMBING OF PENANG

RAID CAUSES TERROR AMONG NATIVES WOMAN DESCRIBES ORDEAL (0.C.) SYDNEY. January 14. A grim story of the Japanese bombing of Penang was told by Miss E. Brailhwaite, who arrived in Australia from Malaya. The people of Penang heard by wireless at 7 a.m. one day that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbour and Singapore. Two hours later Japanese bombers were over Penang. Miss Braithwaite said that the European population had shelters at their homes. They immediately took cover and escaped casualties. "The Japanese started great fires in the Asiatic section, and caused terrible casualties.” she said, "Once, a? the Japanese came over. I was out with the two youngsters, and we dived for cover in a drain beside the road. Some distance away we heard bursting bombs, and we stayed in the drain until the Japanese went away, "The Japanese spread terror among the natives, coming down low and machine-gunning them in the streets. The native crews deserted the ship? in the port, and when we were to be moved from the island to the mainland for the trip to Singapore, the small craft were manned by sailors from H.M.S. Repulse. "The Japanese bombed the water supply and the electric light, which could not be repaired. The women ot Penang who got to Singapore m safety were*able to take few of their possessions with them. They just walked out of their homes with small bundles.”