Nazi Staff Officers Lead Japanese

Northern Advocate, 10 January 1942, Page 5

Nazi Staff Officers Lead Japanese

SINGAPORE, Jan. 9. The report that German staff officers are directing the Japanese campaign in Malaya is now practiclly confirmed.

The correspondent of the Sydney “Morning Herald’’ visited an Indian unit which had just been withdrawn from fighting positions, and interviewed a jemadar (corresponding to a second-lieutenant) who killed one of the European officers with the Japanese.

The European was described as a man over 6ft., very fair, wearing a khaki uniform in a light shade, and high field boots, fitting close to the calf, and carrying a sword and a tommy-gun. Weapons Examined

During the fighting the European took cover behind a tree. An Indian havildar (company sergeant-major) attacked the European, who grappled with him, attempting to use his tommy-gun.

“I shot the European with my pistol,” said the jemadar, who explained that he tried to carry or drag the body away, but it proved too heavy. Another officer explained that fighting at the time was very fierce, and it was impossible to take away Ihe body of a heavy man. The European's tommy-gun and sword were taken and sent to divisional headquarters for examination. In another instance two Indian soldiers were guarding a bridge when a tall fair man, “certainly not Japanese,” approached and said in the Urdu language. “I am one of your officers. Let me cross the bridge.” Other Instances

The Indians refused, and the European. after further attempts at persuasion, leapt at one of the men, attempting to seize his tommy-gun. The European was then shot. Immediately afterwards Japanese officers and troops, who appeared from the jungle and attacked the bridge, were shot by Indian troops. Both these instances were reported at first hand by officers of the same Indian unit. Other instances have been reported of Europeans being seen among advancing Japanese troops, and making observations with field glasses.