Malayan Emergency May End Next Year

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28758, 2 December 1958, Page 16

Malayan Emergency May End Next Year

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 1. The Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Land Forces (Lieutenant-General Sir James Cassels) confidently expected that next year the emergency in Malaya which was caused by the activities of Communist terrorists and which began in 1952 would be ended, said the Minister of Defence (Mr Connolly) today. The Minister, who returned from Malaya and Singapore at the end of last week, reported to the Prime. Minister (Mr Nash) today. He said later in an interview that the operations of New Zealand servicemen in Malaya had contributed in no small measure to the foreseeable end of the costly emergency.

"My primary object in going to Malaya was to ascertain how our servicemen were operating, what the living conditions were of their wives and families, and if in any way conditions could be improved before we begin recruiting for the second battalion next year,” the Minister said. “I was very pleased to hear at first hand from the Chiefs of Staff how effective our naval, land, and air forces really are in. the area, and later to listen to what the local political leaders had to say about their conduct when they were at various camps and leave centres throughout Malaya. "Name Stands High”

“The name of New Zealand stands high because the standards observed by our servicemen are high,” he said. Mr Connolly said that after he had inspected the No. 14 and No. 75 Squadrons, R.N.Z.A.F., all members of which were remarkably well, his remaining time was spent with the New Zealand Battalion.

“Within 15 minutes of entering the camp at Saboan, I met a platoon which had just completed 40 days in jungle operations,” he said. “The men certainly looked very weary, but in that time they had played their part in the role that all forces are playing—day by day helping to end the reign of the Communist terrorists. “In the brief period I was there two further areas had been declared ‘white’ or free of terrorism and the influence of terrorists. The areas represented some 6000 to 8000 square miles of Malaya. “The Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Forces expects with confidence that next year the present emergency will end, but this, of course, does not mean the terrorists will be wholly eliminated. It is thought that the hard core of the terrorists will have been driven far to the north to food-supply caches along the Malaya-Thailand-Burma frontiers* Their presence there in the thick of the jungle of those parts will not assist in any way toward tightening the stranglehold which they have almost had on the economy of Malaya since 1952. “With the general election being held in Malaya in March next it would appear that that country with the prospect of increased prices for rubber and tin, and stability in her new Parliament, will be able to anticipate a period of prosperity,” Mr Connolly said. “Long Struggle” “The achievement of this represents a long struggle and the New Zealanders who have taken part in these operations, embracing not only the elimination of Communist terrorists but also a battle against vermin, discomfort, and the unnerving silence of the jungle, have shown that they have become adept in this type of warfare, just as earlier generations so quickly adapted themselves to Middle East and European conditions.

“The end of the emergency does not mean complete relaxation.

For many years yet it will be necessary to maintain our guard. Our forces have played the part we have undertaken in the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve, but I feel we still have the duty to do our utmost to retain both Malaya and Singapore within the Commonwealth.” The New Zealand Battalion, continued Mr Connolly, was in good heart, and officers, non-com-missioned officers, and other ranks were all equally anxious to carry on. ‘

“I came away with the feeling that that spirit is predominant in all of our forces in the area,” he said, adding that he felt very proud indeed when he was told by the commanding officer of the battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel W. K. Morrison): “Your visit was well worth while. You have spoken to my soldiers in the language they understand, and they like it.” “If that is how they felt after I had suffered but four days of stifling heat and biting mosquitoes, then I have been more than rewarded by the pleasure of hearing all that I did about them and to have met them,” said Mr Connolly. “One cannot but believe that the next generation of New Zealand’s sons will carry on the traditions so firmly laid in two world wars.”