SINGAPORE SURRENDERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 February 1942, Page 5

SINGAPORE SURRENDERS

CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES

JAPANESE TERMS ACCEPTED

CITY WITHOUT WATER-SUPPLY

(Recd. 11.35 a.m.) NEW YORK, February 15. The Tokio radio states: Japanese headquarters have announced that terms were signed for the cessation of hostilities at Singapore, on Sunday, at 10 p.m. Singapore time. The signing took place at the Ford motor plant at the foot of Bukit Timat Hill. The signatures were affixed for Japan by Lieutenant-General Yamashita, and for the British by Lieutenant-General Percival. The announcement added that the British unconditionally accepted the Japanese terms for the surrender of Singapore at 7.50 p.m. on Sunday, Singapore time. The Domei Agency stated that the British officer who brought the offer of surrender to the Japanese headquarters was a member of the General Staff, Major Wilde. The radio stated that the British offered to surrender after the Japanese had occupied and cut off the city’s water reservoirs, thus leaving the British soldiers and the huge population without means

to quench their thirst.

LAST PHASE DESCRIBED. (Rec. 1.44 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 15. Describing the last phase in the Singapore battle, the Tokio radio says: Blue sky is visible over Singapore for the first time for a week, after the huge oil tanks burnt out, But the tropical foliage and the landscape are still black with the soot which settled down. Huge shell and bomb craters are dotting the island, and shattered, dwarfed stumps are the only remnants of flourishing orchards and plantations. The radio commentator says that ttie Japanese struck decisive blows only on Saturday, when they occupied the water reservoirs and the Pyalebar radio station, where the British defenders fiercely fought until the last moment. BRITISH TRANSPORTS BOMBED BATAVIA, February 14. A 20,000-ton transport, formerly a

luxury liner, was dive-bombed seven miles off Singapore. It was hit three times amidships and burst into flames. An Australian warship escorting it went alongside and took off 1,334 troops and then lowered whaleboats and picked up more than 200 men in the water. Another escorting warship picked up still more survivors. An Australian warship shot down three Japanese aeroplanes during the attack. The Tokio radio quotes a Domei News Agency report that Japanese bombers set two 10,000-ton transports on fire, and hit numerous other vessels in Singapore harbour on Friday night. ENEMY CLAIMS (Recd. 11.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 15. Japanese Imperial Headquarters claimed that 32 Allied warships and transports were sunk or damaged south of Singapore, last week.