AIR STRENGTH OF SINGAPORE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 126, 21 February 1941, Page 7

AIR STRENGTH OF SINGAPORE

Powerful Additions SOME FROM NEW ZEALAND (British Otlicial Wireless and Press Assu.) LONDON. February 19. A communique issued today from die British General Headquarters iu the Far East stated: "The British air forces in the Far East have received powerful reinforcements of modern bombers, twin-engined lighters and single-engined fighters. These aircraft are now stationed in various areas of strategic importance.” Men and machines from many parts ot the Empire are fast transforming the island base into a military power-house capable of supplying lighting energy to any part of the Empire which might be threatened. Famous British battalions, veteran infantry and artillery regiments from India, and powerful squadrons o! the Royal Air Force, the Australian Air Force, and New Zealand air units have arrived to discourage and. if necessary, to beat off any attack. the arrival of thousands of Australians in’Singapore has been hailed by Britons in the Far East as a sign that the Empire is prepared to defend her interests to the utmost.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-I‘opham, Commander-in Chief in the Far least, emphasized recently that Singapore and Malaya have not been strengthened at the expense of Burma and .Hong Kong, but in such a wav as to knit them more strongly into Britain's FatEast defence scheme.

The British military spokesman in Hong Kong said: "In spite of the Japanese assurance, we are not taking any chances, and arc making all preparations possible. Hong Kong will be defended by all our resources."