NEWS FROM MALAYA

Grey River Argus, 21 October 1943, Page 5

NEWS FROM MALAYA

ConditionsJnSingapore MALAY STATES ANNEXED. NEW YORK, Oct. 19. The Domei (Japanese) News Agency, in a broadcast, stated that four of the northern Malayan States have been incorporated into Thailand. > LONDON, Oct. 12. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Chungking correspondent says: According to a young Chinese who arrived, at Chungking from Malaya,, via Siam, guerrilla bands totalling several hundred men are still fighting in the Malayan jungles. He was the first eye-witness to report as to conditions in Singapore for some time. He said Singapore was almost a dead city. The only work was in defence areas, but a shortage of cement was hampering the Japanese. The main drydocks had not been raised when ne left, and only destroyers and gunboats were using the repair facilities at the naval base. British and other foreign women . and children were free, but were living precariously. British officers were interned in several of the city’s hotels. ManyBritish prisoners were working m making new railways in Malaya. Some were employed in sweeping tne Singapore streets. The prisoners rations consisted of two bowls of rice gruel daily, and a meagre supply 1 or vegetables. The informant was at Bangkok when the Americans raided the city. He saw many cheer the ’planes. Hatred of tie Japanese was growing throughout Siam. Japanese garrisons in bmgapore, Bangkok and elsewhere dressed raggedly. They often were attired in old* British uniforms, with Japanese emblems, and also wore British shoes.