LOSS OF SINGAPORE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 17 February 1942, Page 5

LOSS OF SINGAPORE

DIFFICULTIES OF GARRISON UNABLE TO CARRY ON ANY LONGER (Rec. 10.20 a.m.) London, Feb. 16. Further details have reached London regarding the last hours before the fall of Singapore. General Wavell advised that he heard from the commander of Singapore that heavy losses from enemyaction and difficulties of water, petrol, food and ammunition have made it impossible to carry on the defence any longer. The Japanese themselves have stated that the British fought ’ beyond the limits of human endurance. The forces at Singapore included the 1 Bth British Division, twothirds of the Bth Australian Division, the 9th and I Ith Indian Divisions and certain fortress troops. It is impossible to estimate the number of troops involved as the British forces have been constantly engaged in bitter Malayan fighting and were probably severely weakened by casualties. A telegram received on Saturday in London from Sir Shenton Thomas. Governor of the Straits Settlement, said there were a million people concentrated within a radius of three miles and water supplies were badly damaged and unlikely to last more than 24 hours. The last telegram received from the Governor, probably sent about the time of the surrender, said that the civil population was quiet but bewildered, that passive defence and fire services were carrying on and that the telephone girls were still at their posts. There is no official information from British sources regarding the evacuation of any allied forces from Singapore as the Japanese have been stating. The policy at Singapore was to fight to the last man and it is stated in official quarters in London that it would be misleading to imply that there was any large-scale withdrawal of troops. Some evacuation of women and children and wounded however had taken place.

Earlier messages state that since Mr Churchill last night announced the fall of Singapore the Japanese have stated that their forces entered the city at 8 a.m. yesterday, local time. It has not yet been disclosed which troops made up the garrison defending Singapore, but the Japanese say it consisted of In,ooo United Kingdom troops, 13,000 Australians and 32.000 Indians, a total of 60,000. Berlin radio, quoting the Japanese newspaper, “Asahi Shimbun,” says that the largest part of the British and Australian forces obviously left Singapore on 13th February for Sumatra. More than 30 ships, all of them over 1000 tons, and also a 10,000-ton cruiser, were ancljored at Singapore on the night of 14th February. All had gone b\ the following morning. Only Chinese and Malays remain in Singapore, the radio added. An official announcement from Tokio stated that under the terms of the surrender. 1000 British soldiers will retain their arms to maintain order till the Japanese completely occupy the city. Tokio radio says that blue sky was visible over Singapore for the first time for a week, after the huge oil tanks had burned out, but the tropical foliage and landscape are still black with the soot which has settled-down. Huge shell and bomb craters dot the island and shattered and dwarfed stumps are the only remnants of flourishing orchards and plantations. The radio commentator said the Japanese struck the decisive blows only ' on Saturday when they occupied the water reservoirs and the Pyalebar radio station where the British de- j fenders fiercely and desperately fought j until the last moment. Radio Paris to-night says that the Japanese are unanimous in paying tribute to the courage of the Empire forces and declare that they remained faithful to military traditions “beyond the limits of human endurance.” VIEW IN WASHINGTON Washington, Feb. 16. ; In the considered judgment of responsible officials here. the fall of' Singapore marks the darkest moment j of the war for the United Nations. It i is generally conceded that Sumatra must fall, cutting off the United Nations * from the main supply of petroleum in the south-west Pacific and likewise allowing the Japanese a free passage into! the Indian Ocean, from which they j can raid the Allied supply lines to China. Suez and the Persian Gulf. If Java falls it is conceded not only that the Allies would have difficulty in regaining a foothold in Malaya but also that they may not be able to supply and build up the force they have started in Australia. “There is no tendency to condemn Mr Churchill, though it is realised that his predictions about the fate of Singapore were far more optimistic than the facts justified. It is generally felt to be useless to cast stones at Mr Churchill unless there is someone to take his place, and thus that they should concentrate on the United States’ shortcomings, which are admittedly considerable.” — P.A SITTER PRESS COMMENT IN SYDNEY Sydney, Feb. 16. The loss of Singapore, though it was not unexpected, has caused serious concern through Australia and the subject is on everybody’s lips. The evening papers’ editorials are mainly directed at criticism of the British Prime Minister. The “Sun” says: “The fall of Singapore is the culmination of a series of disasters which will intensify the anger of the Empire at the direction of the war.’ Tt adds: “There must be some indication right now that the tale of preventiole defeats shall end. and some guarantee that anysfurther enemy successes will not be contributed to by

blunders of our own statesmen and military leaders.” The "Daily Mirror” describes tlie fall of Singapore as a shattering defeat for the British Empire—a devastating phase in the Pacific war of strategic withdrawals and evacuations, lor which one man is responsible. If it is not Mr Churchill, then he is responsible for the men who made them, and he has refused to displace them. RUTHLESS SEARCH FOR EFFICIENCY URGED London, Feb. 16. ‘•The fall of Singapore and the escape of the German warships has given a sharper edge to disappointment and anxiety which the course of the war in the Pacific has aroused along the whole Allied front.” declares “The Times.” The leading article says: “ Some criticisms are misplaced. but their whole purpose is to stimulate a greater and better co-ordinated effort that can only be welcomed by the administration's reinforcing its authority to subordinate every other interest and consideration to the primary purpose of winning the war. “The spirit of the British people is| demanding that the Government match i its own determination and express it ! in an unending and ruthless search j for efficiency, without regard for things j or persons.”—P.A.