MALAY DEFENCES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20635, 10 December 1941, Page 5

MALAY DEFENCES

SINGAPORE PATROLS INVADERS’ LANDINGS FIGHT FOR AERODROME (Reed. Dec. 10, 9 a.m.) SINGAPORE, Dec. 9. Despite ideal weather for bombers Singapore had a quiet night. There were two raid alarms, but no actual raids. The city has adopted London’s slogan, “business as usual,” except some native shopkeepers who evacuated to rural areas. There are few signs of Singapore’s first raid beyond broken windows and half a dozen ruined small buildings. Taxis have been commandeered by the army. Rickshaws are reaping a fine harvest. Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force fighters are continually overhead patrolling. Reconnaissance planes cover a wide area far out to sea seeking enemy aircraft and naval units. Enemy aircraft, it is believed, endeavour to operate from carriers in the China Sea.

A Singapore communique issued last night stated: “The Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force carried out extensive attacks on enemy transports attempting to land troops in Malaya. Confused fighting continues in the Kotabaru area. Additional enemy troops were landed at Singora. Japanese planes bombed Sungei Patani, on the west coast of Malaya.”

More Jap. Transports

An official communique at 1 p.m. to-day says: “Since noon yesterday the situation has developed as follows: The Japanese engaged considerable aircraft in the endeavour to gain a measure of air superiority over northern Mayala in order to cover landings in south Thailand and obtain control of the Kotabaru aerodrome. Air reconnaissance yesterday established that 25 further transports, escorted by warships, were proceeding down the south Thailand coast, apparently preparing to land additional troops in the Singora, Patani and Kotabaru areas. Thus all transports are now apparently engaged in these landings on the Kra Isthmus, north-east Malaya. There is no confirmation at present regarding further support for these forces. The condition of the ground in the Singora area is such that an invasion, if attempted, would probably be restricted to the few available roads

“The fighting for Kotabaru has been severe and although by noon yesterday our forces had achieved a large measure of control there were further landings in the afternoon. _ Heavy fighting proceeded for the control of the aerodrome last evening. Last night the situation in this area was still confused, but reinforcements were expected to reach there to-day. The disposition of our forces in this area was designed to meet the present eventuality.”