Late News JAPANESE UNITS “CLEANED UP”

Southland Times, Issue 24648, 21 January 1942, Page 6

Late News JAPANESE UNITS “CLEANED UP”

AUSTRALIANS NEAR MOAR (Rec. 2 a.m.) LONDON, January 20. The latest reports from the Malayan front indicate that the Australian troops are now within a few miles of Moar after cleaning up all Japanese infiltration parties in the area southward, says the Singapore correspondent of the Associated Press. The capture of Moar would remove the menace to the left flank of the forces hiding in the area east of Gemas. Advanced Australian units in the Moar area, who were more or less surrounded, drew up guns and transport in a defensive circle, but a relief detachment arrived before the expected Japanese attack. The advance on Moar was then continued.

The Vichy News Agency, quoting the Saigon radio, says that the Japanese are launching violent attacks on Java The Daily Mail’s Singapore correspondent says that a heavy movement of troops and vehicles all along the border of Western Johore threatens the imminent resumption in tremendous force of the Japanese drive against Singapore. ALIENS TO BE USED IN LABOUR CORPS (Rec. 2 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Jan. 20. Unnaturalized aliens in Australia art to be subjected to the same militarj call-up as Australian-born and naturalized citizens. They will be employed in labour corps. Certain prisoners of war may be employed in non-military works within the limits of the international convention. Mr J. M. Forde, the Army Minister, said today that he was determined that every person who could lawfully be made to give his services to Australia should be made to do so. That applied to war prisoners, refugees and citizens of Allied or occupied territories. The War Cabinet had concurred with his view. The Government would act to the very limit ot its powers.