A NEW LANDING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24826, 28 January 1942, Page 5

A NEW LANDING

JAPANESE FORCES EAST COAST OF JOHORE BATTLE FOR SINGAPORE (Rec. 1 a.in. LONDON, Jan. 27. In spite of heavy losses, the Japanese have made a new landing in Malaya. The enemy convoys sighted off Endau, on the east coast of Johore, carried a landing force. Our bombers scored 12 hit' on troopships, and landing craft were damaged. The enemy lost 12 fighters.

The battle for Singapore has come. It is no longer imminent. It is being fought now, though the front is 60 miles from the island itself. In the event of further Japanese progress the Imperial forces may hold a small narrowing perimeter in southern Johore, protecting the naval base from a land bombardment. Since the outbreak of war, the Japanese have lost 87 planes over Burma and Malaya, and 36 more were probably destroyed, while 21 were damaged. Anti-aircraft defences accounted for 50 of those which were certainly destroyed. Tomahawks to-day repulsed a Japanese fighter sweep over the Rangoon area, shooting down three and probably destroying two. The Berlin radio quotes a Tokio claim that the Japanese made new landings on Borneo and on the island of New Guinea. The Japanese also claim to have occupied Kluang, in Johore.

A communique issued in Rangoon states that there is no change on the Tenasserim front. A’ company comprising a British officer and 100 Gurkhas, belonging to the battalion which was cut off some days ago and believed to have been lost, has now fought its way back to the British lines. The British withdrawal from the Moulmein area is officially stated inLondon to be continuing, and British troops have inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.

A Singapore communique states: —

“ Early this morning an enemy convoy, including warships and two merchantmen, was sighted by our aircraft off Endau. As previously announced, Endau had already been evacuated by our outposts. No enemy activity is reported from the Mersing area. Further details of the attack by a Sikh battalion north of Kluang on January 24 show that the enemy casualties were at least 400, while our own were slight. The same battalion ambushed and routed a party of about 200 enemy cyclists yesterday and destroyed 60. At Batu Rabat, after severe fighting, the enemy succeeded in occupying the lown.

“ Bombers of the Far East Command carried out a number of attacks on enemy targets during the night. At Batu Pahat severe damage was caused to military objectives and a number of large fires were started. At Kuala Lumpur the aerodrome was successfully attacked, bombs being seen to hit and damage runways. As the result of an attack on shipping at Muar, a 600-ton vessel was left listing. Bombs also hit the jetty and started several fires in the target area. Transport on the road between Muar and Parit Jawa was machine-gunned. Our fighters continued to carry out offensive patrols and support our land forces and transport near Batu Pahat, while a vessel off Psialu was machinegunned and damaged. This morning our fighters engaged a formation of enemy fighters and damaged one ‘ navy ’ type. All our planes returned safely from the above operations.” The Secretary for the Colonies, Lord Moyne, sent the following telegram to the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Thomas Shenton: “ Singapore is by all accounts in no way behind London and other cities of the Empire in standing up to the worst the enemy can do in indiscriminate bombing of the civil population, and his Majesty’s Government makes known its admiration of all those who are courageously carrying on in face of this prolonged ordeal. To those who have suffered bereavement and lost, their homes, please express my sincerest sympathy. From all our experiences here we can especially esteem you who have felt blows and stand fast.”

The Singapore correspondent of the New York Times reports that the heavy Japanese air Iqsses during the mass attacks on and Rangoon last week are believed to be responsible for the lessening of enemy aerial activity. A large squadron, probably assigned to dump explosives on the city, to-day jettisoned their bombs over Johore and then fled to their bases when attacked by British fighters. Hurricanes and Brewsters are maintaining a constant vigil over Singapore, and it would appear, adds the correspondent, that the Japanese bomber squadrons have lost the desire for encounters with these planes. He added that no air force can long suffer the losses which the Japanese have been experiencing lately, especially when only comparatively small damage is exacted in return.