REINFORCEMENTS LANDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24145, 11 December 1941, Page 9

REINFORCEMENTS LANDED

JAPANESE OPERATIONS IN MALAYA

DUTCH WARSHIPS AND PLANES ARRIVE (Received December 10, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 10 Japanese operations on the Malay Peninsula are growing in intensity. They are throwing reinforcements into n6rthern Malaya in an effort to seize transport centres commanding the routes to the south. During the past 24 hours they have continued both air and land efforts to obtain a footing in northern Malaya, without making much progress. Five of their aircraft were shot down during an attack on Butterworth aerodrome at Penang. •>» A further communique states that early this morning Japanese troops attempted to land on the east coast of Malaya, just north of Kuantan, where they are being engaged by our troops and aircraft. The Japanese are using strong air squadrons to cover their landings.

Naval reinforcements and bomber and fighter units from the Netherlands East Indies reached Singapore yesterday. Indian reinforcements have arrived at Rangoon. They are equipped with the most modern weapons and special transport vehicles. While it is not thought that Malaya can be effectively blockaded, large supplies have been laid in to meet any emergency.