SPITFIRE ASSAULTS ON INSURGENTS IN MALAYAN AREAS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22697, 23 July 1948, Page 5

SPITFIRE ASSAULTS ON INSURGENTS IN MALAYAN AREAS

(N.Z.P.A.— Reuter—Copyright.) (11 a.m.) SINGAPORE, July 22. Firing machine-guns and cannons, R.A.F. Spitfires went into action this afternoon against an insurgent band, estimated at 50, which was attacking a military force south of Bertam, in Kelantan State. Tiie attack was the fourth successful engagement in which, R.A.F. advanced air headquarters reported, Spitfires took part in the past 24 hours.

Bertam is about 15 miles north*' of Guamusang, where the terrorists last Saturday are reported to have captured .16 police and later ambushed a military party coming to their rescue, killing a major and five members of a Malay regiment-

The Spitfires took off to attack today immediately after a Dakota flying in the Bertam area flashed back a message to the task force headquarters. _ The Dakota saw a ground-to-air signal from a military force asking for supnort. The area ahead of the advancing military force was “saturated" with machine-gun and cannon fire, says an R.A.F. statement. The Spitfires’ four attacks in 24 hours included a strike against huts suspected to be a terrorist hide-out near Lenggong in Ferak, a surprise attack on insurgent headquarters near Telok Anson in Perak where scattering terrorists were attacked with machinegun cannon fire for 20 minutes, it is believed, with “heavy casualties," and an attack against a terrorist hide-out in Pahang which, a ground observer reported, was very successful. Six Chinese gunmen in Johore tonight shot dead a Kuomintang leader on a rubber estate near Teneng. At Ipoh a judge today imposed two death sentences under the new emergency regulations. Two Chinese were sentenced for illegal possession of arms and ammunition. Another was sentenced to five years and a fourth to one year on the same charge. ■ A police communique issued at Seremban, 50 miles south of Kuala Lumpur, said the police had arrested two British soldiers who “deserted” from Tanipin last Sunday. They were still in possession of their arms but without the jeep in which they absconded. An advance party of two officers and 14 other ranks of the Inniskillings fusiliers arrived at Singapore today from Hong Kong. The remainder or the battalion, which will reinforce the British forces fighting the terrorists, is expected to arrive shortly. Sixty-nine one-ton mobile guns for use against the terrorist bands arrived at Singapore yesterday. _ Reservists of the Malay regiment in Singapore were t- last night called to the colours.