LAST MEN BACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24189, 3 February 1942, Page 5

LAST MEN BACK

TRAIL OF ' DEMOLITION

BLOWING UP THE CAUSEWAY

AUSTRALIANS AT STRAITS

SYDNEY, Feb. 1 There has been little rest in recent weeks for the men of the Australian Imperial Force retreating to Singapore, says the official Australian war correspondent. Each night as they fell back they had to dig pits and slit trenches for protection against relentless air attacks. The whole countryside was racked with explosions from artillery, mortars and the deeper thuds

of demolition works. All bridges have been blown up and road destruction has been severe, particularly on the east coast, where long stages of road running on high earthen embankments lent themselves to more lasting damage. Each day palls of black smoke hung over burning villages and towns. Their flimsy wooden shops and dwellings were easy tinder fc- Japanese bombs. Last Fierce Battle In the burning town of Kulai, only 28 miles from the Singapore causeway, one of the fiercest actions in the Malayan campaign was fought by the A.I.F. Here the men had halted to give battle and the Japanese came on in large numbers, seemingly unaware of what lay before them. With cunningly placed flanking fire the enemy was forced to earth and barely had the Japanese crouched for cover when the Australians were on them with the bayonet, inflicting orer 200 casualties with slight loss to themselves. It was here that the A.I.F. made the last stand to hold the Japanese back on this road, while flanking roads lower down were cleared of troops and important equipment. The final bridgehead about 20 miles out, was formed by A.I.F. men and Gordon Highlanders, who covered themselves with glory from the first day of the campaign. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders waited behind for them to fall through and they were the last troops to cross causeway, being piped across by the Gordon Highlanders. By 5 a.m. all the men were over the causeway. A few hours later a huge explosion made the whole island shake as the causeway was destroyed. The troops were soon shifted to new battle stations ready to meet the next step in the campaign. Public Confidence Firm The Japanese advance has not shaken the confident of the public as the withdrawal from the peninsula was fully expected. There were no signs of panic, but grim determination and even relief that the land retreat was ended. The troops are now being concentrated under the protection of Singapore's massive guns, and further Japanese infiltration will be most difficult. The Australian soldiers are on the Straits of Johore. British planes intermittently plaster the Japanese positions across the Straits. Further demolition of the causeway is expected, i The Sultan of Johore has announced his intention of staying in Johore Bahru to watch the interests of his subjects who regard him as their spiritual and temporal father. The Sultana is staying with him.

MALAYAN WITHDRAWAL

LONDON PRESS VIEWS LONDON, Feb. 2 Discussing the loss of Malf\ya the Times says: "The British Empire has been, compelled to abandon other terri - tory in the course of this war, but none of similar importance to its war effort." The Daily Express states: "The prestige value of Singapore is great. Its practical value is greater still. It is still a base of the most importance, and it must be kept."

RAIDERS OVER SOLOMONS

SYDNEY, Feb. 2 The Australian Air Minister, Mr. Drakeford, has announced that early this morning Japanese aircraft made a reconnaissance in the Solomon Islands and dropped bombs near Kulagi. No reports have been received of damage or casualties in this raid.

DEATHS IN THE WAR

ESTIMATE OF TWO MILLIONS WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 The military losses of the present war are far less than those for a corresponding period in the last World War, according to statisticians of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York. From the beginning of the present conflict until the end of 1941, deaths in the armed forcers of all belligerents are estimated at 1,1'50,000 to '2,000,000, compared with 5,000,000 dead during the period from July, 1914, to July, 1916.

GERMAN FINANCES

(Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 1 The Berlin radio stated that Germany's income for the third year of war was estimated at £4,000,000,000 (pr®~ war rates), three-quarters of which would be raised by taxation. The remainder would come from Bohemia, Moravia and other _ occupied territories. Expenditure will be double the income, and the balancewill be financed by credits, a portion being given by industry j which will receive post-war tax reductions in return.