SECOND EDITION GUNS QUIETER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24195, 10 February 1942, Page 6

SECOND EDITION GUNS QUIETER

SINGAPORE BATTLE ENEMY FORCES DIVIDE CONFLICT OF PATROLS (Reed. 1.35 a.m.) SINGAPORE, Feb. 0 Artillery fire on the western sector of Singapore Island lessened considerably this morning, says the Australian pfHcial war correspondent. The battle has rapidly become one of patrols, as the Japanese split their forces on landing and made for vital points. The main landing took place on the western portion of the island along the coast running west from the Kranji Estuary, which cuts into the island for ahont three miles and runs slightly south-west. This leaves a line about four miles long running from the base of the estuary due west to the coast. The width of Johore Strait varies in this area from three-quarters of a mile to one mile. In the attack on the Allied forward positions the Japanese, in addition to artillery, used a con-

sideraWe mimber of bombers and fighters, and the defending troops oh the island fell back, i There has been some infiltration eastward by the Japanese. Action is being taken to mop them np. British fighters which attacked enemy aircraft bombing, and machine-gunning Allied forward positions destroyed three Japanese machines. Another three were probably destroyed and 13 others were damaged. There is no news in London of the number of Japanese who landed, nor is there any confirmation of the Tokio claim that Japanese tank units are taking part. The Australian Minister of War, Mr. F. M. Forde, said to-day that a Japanese attack on the central part of the Netherlands East Indies was imminent. "We may not have long before we are palled upon to produce a. 'terrific acceleration of the plans on whicJh ire are working," he added.