AIR ATTACKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24833, 5 February 1942, Page 5

AIR ATTACKS

SINGAPORE SIEGE RETALIATORY BLOWS TROOP COLUMNS BOMBED CIVILIAN MORALE HIGH (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 4. The latest Singapore communique reports no change in the general situation. Air attacks have been made on enemy transport columns and troop concentrations in the Johore Bharu area. Further air raids by Japanese bombers over the island caused some damage, but few military casualties. A few bombs were dropped on the city.

In the past few days Singapore anti-aircraft guns have brought down two Japanese planes for certain, and probably one other. A Singapore communique issued last night stated that there had been considerable enemy air activity during the previous 24 hours. High-level and dive-bombing attacks caused some fires. Military casualties were slight, and there was no enemy ground activity against our defences. Bombers of the Far East Command raided Kluang aerodrome, and also attacked enemy motor transport from a low level. All our planes returned safely. Morning and afternoon raids are becoming an accepted feature of Singapore's life, and evidence is accumulating that all and one are determined to carry on essential works. Everywhere may be seen " business as usual" signs.

Among the non-Europeans, the Chinese and Eurasians are showing the greatest capacity to "take it." The Chinese heavily out-number all other nationalities, and therefore their conduct is a valuable steadying factor among the non-Europeans. Chinese labour forces are apparently ready and willing to work in the dangerous areas in spite of the frequent air attacks. Chinese shop assistants carry on during " alerts " until the planes are overhead and the signal given. The Eurasian girls' calm demeanour in times of danger has won high praise.

* A STIRRING CALL COMMANDER'S MESSAGE VALUE OF DELAYING ACTIONS (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 4. General Sir Archibald Wavell,'Com-mander-in-Chief in the South Pacific, in a special order of the day, has issued a stirring appeal to ""the Allied forces in the East. " Our part," he states, "is to gain time for the arrival of the reinforcements that we and the United States are able to provide in ever-increasing quantities." General Wavell points out that the position of the Allied defenders in the East is similar to that of the gallant British Expeditionary Force which in the first battle of Ypres in the Great War prevented the Germans from breaking through. " We must save Asia from the Japanese," he adds. "We must fight hard and leave for them nothing which can be destroyed." Adressing the defenders of Singapore, General Wavell says: "Mook to you to make the defence of Singapore as successful as that of Tobruk"- :

It is pointed out'in London that any delaying action imposed on the Japanese is of the greatest value, in that it upsets the enemy's schedule, forcing him to take time to reorganise. For this reason the recent attacks on Japanese bases in the Marshall arid Gilbert Islands by American air and naval forces are regarded as being of great importance to the ultimate outcome of the struggle in the Pacific. 10,000 JAPANESE DEAD URNS OF ASHES FROM MALAYA (Rec. 7 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Feb. 3. A Chinese military spokesman, quoting ' intelligence reports, said the entire Japanese 18th Division was annihilated in Malaya. More than 10,000 urns containing ashes of Japanese dead have reached Saigon.