BRITISH COLONIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 133, 2 December 1941, Page 7

BRITISH COLONIES

MOVES FOR DEFENCE

MOBILISATION AT SINGAPORE

(Rec. 9 a.m.) SINGAPORE, Dec. 1

The Governor, by special proclamation, has declared a state of emergency.

The Straits Settlements volunteers, the R.N.V.R., and the Volunteer Air Force have also been called up by proclamation.

An official stated that the proclamation does not signify imrrediate deterioration in the position but is merely that precautionary measures are being instituted step by step. General Percival, British Comman-der-in-Chief. Malaya, is cutting short his visit to Sarawak, to which he flew last week, and is returning to Singapore today, v '

Meanwhile the forces are remaining alert and guards are stationed at Government offices and key points. At Hong Kong the Associated Press of America reports that the Government has urged all persons not required for duty in the event of an outbreak of hostilities to evacuate themselves and their families from Hong Kong. All military leave has been cancelled.

General Sir Thomas Blarney, who is spending a few days in Singapore for a conference with defence chiefs, replying to American correspondents, said that if the democracies were to be saved the democratic nations must put their full weight into the struggle. The sooner they did that the sooner victory would be assured.