Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1942. SINGAPORE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 February 1942, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1942. SINGAPORE.

yiIERE is nothing to be gained by attempting to minimise the seriousness of the situation at Singapore. A landing by the Japanese was tin 1 logical sequel to their previous gains elsewhere, and it had been expected, everything possible being done to meet the challenge. The initial advantage was with the enemy, and, after making use of a heavy artillery barrage, their actual landing was aided by the covei’ of darkness. Whether they can retain the initiative remains to be seen, but it is apparent that the invasion has now been developed on a larger scale, with a consequent addition to the difficulties of the island’s defenders. On the other hand, the task of the Japanese will not be easy, and they will be called upon to pay heavily in men and material. The fortress is well garrisoned with seasoned troops, and the reserves of oil, fuel, munitions and food are reported to be ample. For many months the garrison has been constructing defence systems, and, more recently, the coastal belt along Johore Strait has been honeycombed with pill-boxes, trench lines, and artillery positions. Air power yiust play a great part in the struggle. The military airfields lie near the naval base in the north of the island, and the Japanese already claim to have occupied one of them. It is doubtful whether the civil flying field near Singapore city will be adequate, and air support for the defences must in that case come from other bases. Reports so far received show that the enemy airmen are meeting strong opposition

It is one of the ironies of this war that, after all the millions spent on the Singapore naval base. Jits main purpose has been lost to the Allies, and they are now without an adequate base necessary to the restoration of sea-power, i Singapore was the only first-class base between Alexandria and Pearl Harbour, capable of receiving and serving a battle fleet, and it may well be that Australia will be called upon to supply the deficiency. As Mr. Forde, the Australian Minister, has said, that continent may become the offensive base from which ultimately, the

Allies “will embark upon the reconquest of a free Asia and a free Pacific.” Many great decisions, secretly macle, are as secretly being carried out, he said, and ample evidence of American aid would be apparent before many months. Mr. Churchill’s prophecy, that “we shall have a great deal more bad news from the Far East” was not long in being fulfilled, but Japan has yet to make contact with the real strength of the Allies. Meanwhile, the thoughts of the Empire arc with the defenders of Singapore. As Lord Moyne, Secretary for the Colonies, said recently: “They will acquit themselves gallantly, and share with us the triumph of ultimate victory.”