“CAN’T HAPPEN HERE”
ATTITUDE OF PEOPLE OF SINGAPORE (Rec. 5.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 28. “Singapore people simply refused to believe that the war could come there, said Lady Brooke-Popham on her return to England with Sir Robert Brooke Popham. “I went to Singapore as a newcomer from the London blitz and was struck immediately by the deadly inertia of the white population. My husband tried to shake them up but it was hopeless. They were utterly dormant. “Getting no help from home made it difficult. A.R.P. work was never taken seriously. I asked a certain lady to give me two hours help daily. She replied, ‘I am awfully sorry, but I have entered for a tennis tournament, and A.R.P. work would interfere with my tennis.’ “People continued with their parties, bridge, and dancing until the very last. Any preparation at all was made entirely by my husband. The Chinese were magnificent and did all they could to help, but the Malays were inert and outside everything.” Sir Robert refused to make a statement.
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Southland Times, Issue 24682, 2 March 1942, Page 5
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173“CAN’T HAPPEN HERE” Southland Times, Issue 24682, 2 March 1942, Page 5
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