Nearly One Thousand Killed to Date in Malayan Hostilities

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1949, Page 5

Nearly One Thousand Killed to Date in Malayan Hostilities

LONDON, Feb. 23. The Minister of State for Colonial Affairs, Lord Listowel told the House of Lords to-day that the total strength of the British forces in Malaya would not be reduced. He said the position in Malaya was still serious, but it was not worsening. The attacks by bandits had fallen from 278 in November to 198 in January. The murders of civilians had dropped from. 48 monthly‘from June to December to 31 in January. The R.A.F. and the Navy, he added, had taken part in combined operations and there were signs that many of the bandit forces were unable to continue the fight in areas where they were formerly strong. It was announced to-day at Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, that since June 10 last when terrorism began, the security forces have killed 466 terrorists. Three hundred and forty-three others were captured, of whom 35 were hanged. The terrorists in the same period killed 346 civilians, of whom 240 were Chinese, 53 Malays, 25 Europeans, 18'Indians, plus 10 others. Sixty-seven regular and 68 special and auxiliary police were killed in the same period. .