LITTLE CHANGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22183, 29 January 1942, Page 5

LITTLE CHANGE

Situation In Malaya Allied Air Force Active c 7' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON. January 27. The main battle in Malaya is. now taking place on or south oi the toad' which runs across the peninsula about 50 miles from Singapore. In spite of determined British air attacks on the enemy convoy reported in yesterday’s communique as being off the east coast of Malaya south of Endau. tjie Japanese have landed a force and some transport. An enemy cruiser was’'hit' by bombs, and in addition 12 hits v.ere scored on troopships and stores. At least 12 enemy fighters were destroyed. The Japanese are now working south of Mersing, but in the central area there is little change. The Japanese are dive-bombing and machinegunning the roads. On the west coast, fighting is taking place 12 miles south-east of Batu Pahat. Air Force Co-operation There are increasing signs of the Royal Air Force co-operation in the Malayan campaign. When the enemystruck the forces available by the Malaya Command were small, besides being spread throughout the peninsula, with a large proportion of the fighter strength concentrated at Singapore for the defence of the base, which is the enemy’s chief objective. Now, .with, the arrival of Hurricanes, the Air Force is able to spare planes to protect the front line troops and escort bombing expeditions. This increased Imperial air activity is one of the cheering features of the fighting in Johore though the Japanese are still superior in Fighter sweeps are proceeding daily over the front while attempts to raid the island are meeting with sturdy resistance. The Australian official war correspondent says that the Royal Austtfalian Air Force took part in an attack on an enemy convoy off Endau. None of their planes was lost. Hudson bombers scored direct hits on ships. One bomb completely blew out the stem portion of a liner, estimated? 10,000 tons. The Hudsons were escorted by Buffaloes, which engaged waves of Japanese fighters while bombers made their runs across the ships. A Rangoon communique states: “We successfully evacuated Nergui in Vhe past week without interference. All stores and equipment were removed, also civil officials and personnel. Our bombers, escorted by fighters, carried out bombing raids against the enemy, blew up the Kawkareik-Mywaddi rqad and machine-gunned several enemy lorries.” A contingent of Chinese Army technicians and railway workers has been loaned to Burma to expedite the clearance of American supplies from Rangoon to China. Ultimately it is planned to employ at least 3000 Chinese at the Rangoon docks.