ISOLATE SINGAPORE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 28, 2 January 1942, Page 5

ISOLATE SINGAPORE

JAPANESE OBJECTIVE. LONDON, Dec. 31

An Army spokesman in Singapore yesterday declared that the Japanese grand strategy seemed to be aimed at isolating Singapore. The chief prize for Japan in this campaign was the Netherlands East Indies, and lor that reason Singapore must and would be kept going, because once Singapore tell the Netherlands East Indies would tall.

There was little indication at present of Japanese preparations for an attempt to land in Sumatra. There were few available craft, except fishingboate, while no signs of troop-carrying aircraft in North Malaya had been seen. In Ottawa to-day Mr Churchill, at a Press conference, expressed his confidence that Singapore will be held. Of the three prongs of the Japanese drive on Singapore the greatest threat comes from the west coast, while the operations on the east coast are principally confiued to patrols. The least serious drive is that down the central railway line from Kota Bharu. South of Ipoh the advanced units of the British and Japanese armies are now making contact with increasing vigour. The past week's lull is apparently approaching an end, indicating that the Japanese have succeeded 111 bringing up reinforcements along the road from Singora. This revival is expected bv the British forces, who have made every preparation •to combat it along the new line. ATTACK FROM. REAR.

According to the army spokesman in Singapore the Japanese are busy building rafts north of Ipoh with which they hope to send troops down the Perak River with the idea ol taking the British forces from the rear. This form of attack is regarded by the Service Chiefs as having only a nuisance value and not constituting a serious threat to the Imperial troops. A communique issued in Singapore to-day states : "On the Perak front ' the pressure has been slignt. Our patrols have been active, and where the enemy have been met offensive action has been taken with good results. Enemv aircraft made some divebombing attacks on our communications, causing little damage One plane was shot down by our light machinegun fire. In the Kuantan area (halfway down the east coast) there has been contact with enemy parties who had approached from the direction ot Trengganu (ICO miles north of Kuantan} The enemy made some divebombing attacks and machine-gun attacks" in our rear areas "Aircraft of the Royal Air Force bombed the aerodrome at Sungei Patani last night. Bombs were seen to fall on the aerodrome and fires were startcvl. Enemy;, aircraft raided an aerodrome at Singapore last night. Verv slight damage was caused, and I here were no casualties. |