LATE NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24832, 4 February 1942, Page 6

LATE NEWS

RAID ON SURABAYA DUTCH NAVAL BASE (Rec. 1.45 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 3. Japanese bombers to-day carried out the first raid on Surabaya, the key Netherland's East Indies naval base, which is situated on the north coast of Java. Two other towns situated inland behind the naval base were also bombed. "Rather considerable damage " was done, it is stated. A Batavia message reports increased enemy air activity over the strategically important island of Bangka, off the coast of Sumatra, south of Singapore. The island is situated in the strait between Sumatra and Borneo. SINGAPORE BUNGLE LONDON PRESS COMMENT (Rec. 1.50 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 3. "A whole'generation has bungled a magnificent enterprise. Singapore was meant to stand on its own feet. To-day, after only two months of the Pacific war, the base is useless to us, and only fighting and good fortune can save it from being employed against us by the Japanese," says the Evening Standard. "For this fiasco, we have to thank the melancholy parade of woolly politicians and spineless advisers who, since its launching 20 years ago, have made it the plaything of successive'Governments."' R.A.F. FIGHTERS WITHDRAWAL FROM SINGAPORE ASSUMED , , LONDON, (Rec. 1.45 a.m.) Feb. 3. The aeronautical writer of the Daily Telegraph says that since Singapore's*air fields are now within shell fire range of the enemy or within range of the enemy shortrange bombers, it must be assumed that direct defence of the island by fighters based on Singapore itself, has .ceased. The latest Singapore communique states that enemy aircraft carried out further high-level and dive bombing attacks.. Fires were started but only slight military damage Was done.

, Allied bombers are striking back and the aerodromes in Malaya from which these attacks were launched were heavily bombed.

KING FAROUK LOYALTY NOT ABOVE SUSPICION (Rec. 1.50 am.) LONDON, Feb. 3. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Herald says that ever since his accession King Farouk of Egypt has adopted an arrogant, domineering attitude to his Ministers. Encouraged by a small anti-British "palace clique," he has shown little sense of the duties of a constitutional king. Instead, he has aimed throughout at increasing his own personal power. Even his loyalty to the British-Egyptian alliance is by no means above suspicion.