MAIN THRUST

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 21 January 1942, Page 5

MAIN THRUST

WESTERN COASTAL MALAYA In Muar-Bavu Pahat Area ALLIES ATTACK TROOP BARGES (Rec. 10.35 a m ) Rugby, Jan. 20. A Singapore communique states that the enemy is still maintaining heavy pressure on the entire front in western Malaya, with the main thrust in the coastal belt in the Muar-Batu Pahat area. On the east coast there has been enemy patrol activity in the Pndau area. Mersing, 80 miles from Singapore, was bombed and machine-gunned yesterday with little result. Yesterday in Johore our anti-aircraft defence shot down three enemy aircraft. The total aircraft shot down to-day by anti-aircraft defence in the Malaya area totalled 4 I certainties and 1 6 probables. Yesterday afternoon fighter aircraft of the Far East Command carried out offensive sweeps in the Muar area and machine-gunned and damaged a number of barges disembarking troops from a small vessel at the mouth of the river. During the sweep our fighters encountered and engaged a force of enemy aircraft and shot down a navy “O fighter.

Bomber aircraft carried out an attack on an aerodrome at Kuala Lumpur and other targets in the vicinity. Bombs were seen to fall on the targets but detailed results were not observed. Other aircraft raided targets at Muar. Enemy aircraft raided Singapore this morning and bombs appear to have been dropped indiscriminately, falling to a large extent in residential areas. Some military damage is reported. Enemy aircraft which raided Singapore were intercepted by our fighters who shot down one navy “O” type and one bomber, while another was probably destroyed. Two of our fighters are missing.—B.O.W.