RUSHING AID TO MALAYA

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 89, 9 January 1942, Page 5

RUSHING AID TO MALAYA

Allied Supplies And Sea Power LAND PROSPECTS

Increased Japanese Offensive

(By Tjlegrap-li. —Press Assn.—Copyright.) , LONDON, January 7. Authoritative reports, says a message from Singapore, indicate that the position in Malaya is likely to take a decisive turn for the during the next few weeks. Britain and America are rushing „ every possible supply to bolster the defences of Singapore. Extensive reinforcement of the Allied navies in the Pacific has occurred, and will continue.

An official message from Singapore says that Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey 1 Layton, Comma'nder-in-Chief of the Eastern Fleet, has left' Singapore to organize his fleet so that “the Allies may gain sea supremacy in the Far East as soon as possible.”

Reports of the fighting in Malaya say that the Japanese pressure on the main front has increased mainly through the activities of suicide squads. Immediately these squads are mown down they are replaced by fresh troops. The Imperial forces on the east coast are continuing their withdrawal according to plan. British forces have been counter-attacking in the Kuala Selangor region, where fighting is con-' tinuing in treacherous mangrove swamp country. The defenders are also trying to counter a Japanese thrust across the Bernam. River, north of Kualg Selangor. Threat to Kuala Eumpur. It is believed that a battle for Kuala Lumpur cannot be long delayed. -The increasing danger of the. Japanese overwhelming air superiority continues to be emphasized in London as the most disturbing feature of the whole fighting, specially the fact that the Japanese air force seems to be swinging its blitz southward to the roads, railways, airfields, and concentrations between their army and Singapore. 1 ' ■ The aeronautical correspondent ot the “Daily Herald” says that the real air battle for Singapore will begin when the Japanese are able to seize the Kuala Lumpur and Port Swettenham airfields. “The real danger,” he says, ( “now comes from that useful collection of ships and small craft which we were senseless enough to leave behind for the Japanese at Penang. It is feared that the Japanese, by sudden landings, will be able to seize the' Kuala Lumpur and Port Swettenham airfields.” Less Left for Enemy. ’ According to “The Times” correspondent at Singapore, the criticism of the failure to apply the scorched earth policy is evidently bearing fruit. The policy is now being applied with greater thoroughness than in the early stages of the Japanese advance. Tin mines are being flooded and,dredges made unserviceable. On the rtibber estates, where it is impossible to destroy every tree, all equipment is being destroyed.. A Singapore communique, reports that enemy air activity has been considerable. Enemy aircraft attacked Klang yesterday but no damage or Casualties have been reported. There was an alert in Singapore yesterday evening. No bombs were dropped. ODDS STILL GREAT Defenders’ Vigorous Struggle (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 7. The fighting in northern Malaya is described in a despatch published iu the “Straits Times,” Singapore, to-day, in which the. correspondent writes “The defenders are putting up a heroic struggle against odds of four or five to one, and are manfully resisting in dogged rearguard actions which compel the enemy to pay a terrible price. The Japanese avoid open country, keeping to the cover of the jungle, but their losses are nevertheless heavy. British troops have rushed enemy postibns and engaged in hand-to-hand lighting. Gburkas also raced into action.”The correspondent says that in one town civilians recognized the danger of looting while the . Japanese were bombing and machinegunning, and set up their own shop guards, who patrolled with staves and arm-bands. Three days before the Japanese entered the town all the warehouses were thrown open for the population to remove food for themselves. The stocks taken included 10,000 bags of rice, which were thus saved from the Japanese and distributed over wide areas. Though it was wrong from a miltary viewpoint, the water supplies were deliberately left intact, out of humane consideration for the people. Roads and bridges were destroyed, and booby traps were laid as the Japanese advanced. Rubber was burnt, tin mings were flooded, and tin dredges were sunk or dismantled. CLAIM OF TERRIFIC BATTLE (Received January .8, 9.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 7. Tokio official radio claims that a terrific battle is under way between the British and Japanese forces on the border of Perak and Selangor States. 250 miles north of Singapore. It adds , that the encircled British troops are resisting desperately from their strongly-fortified defences along the edges of dense jungles.