MALAYA

Evening Star, Issue 24082, 31 December 1941, Page 7

MALAYA

NO CHANGE IN SITUATION JAPANESE SUFFER HEAVY CASUALTIES (British Ollicinl Wireless.) [’less Association—By Telegraph—-Copyright (lire, D.-j2 a.m.) ItI'GHY. Dec. DO. This morning’s communique Lorn Singapore states: On the Perak trout tlie enemy put in a strong attack last night. hut suffered- heavy casualties. Elsewhere in .Malaya there is no change iu the situation. Knomy aircraft made a farther raid on Kelanton yesterday, causing no damage or casualties. Reports now received show that the enemy raid on Kulang yesterday caused only slight casualties. No damage was done to the aerodrome. In an enemy air attack on the railway station a large labour force which happened to bo there behaved with great calmness. Enemy aircraft made four raids on Singapore last night. Some damage was done to thatched buildings, which set a small petrol site on lire. So far only four casualties are reported. Allied aircraft carried out a number of successful reconnaissances yesterday. There is still no continuation in authoritative circles in London of the loss of the important tin centre of Ipoh. THE JAPANESE ADVANCE PUSHING DOWN WEST COAST LONDON, December 30. The latest Singapore communique states that the Japanese made a strong attack on the Perak front, but wore repulsed with heavy casualties. The communique stated that there is no change in the situation at other Malayan points. Kncmy aircraft attacked Kuantau yesterday, but caused little damage and few casualties. An enemy air attack took place on a railway station on the Perak front. Enemy aircraft made four attacks on Singapore last night. Some slight damage was done, but there were only four casualties. This was the first raid on Singapore since December 8. In the past three days the Japanese forces on the west coast have advanced a further 15 or 20 miles. A few days ago fighting referred to as patrol activity was taking place at Sungei Siput. At" present the British are reported to be making close contact with the enemy south of Ipoh, which was subjected to the severest bombing, apparently while the British forces were making a temporary stand there. Civilians and business men evacuated Ipoh some days ago, while the Air Force moved out a week ago. Further details of the success of the raid on Singora and Patani are somewhat offset by the news that Japanese bombing has now penetrated as far south as Kluang, which is about 80 miles north of Singapore and the last good aii-field before Singapore itself. The Japanese arc still following the policy of attacking airfields primarily, as well as seeking out railways, bridges, and other links of communication. The civil population of North Malaya is still being subjected to repeated raids, an example of which is the savage bombing of the township of Kuala Lumpur. Two Chungking military experts. Major-general Cheng Kai-mum and Colonef Tn. have arrived at Singapore and are conferring with the commander-in-chief. It is believed that this indicates closer co-operation in this theatre of the Far Eastern war.