Threat To Singapore

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22184, 30 January 1942, Page 5

Threat To Singapore

Two Destroyers Sunk In Running Fight By Telegraph—Frees Association—Copyright (Received 11 p.m.) LONDON, January 29. A COMMUNIQUE issued by the Admiralty gives details of a naval action between British and Japanese forces off the east coast of Malaya near Endau. One Japanese destroyer was sunk and another damaged, and one British destroyer Was sunk. She was H.M.S. Thanet (Commander Davis). The communique adds that British naval units intercepted a Japanese cruiser and three destroyers off Endau, where the Japanese have been landing troops to support their drive down the east coast. The enemy vessels made off, and in a running fight one destroyer was sunk and another damaged.. The action is the first to be fought between surface vessels of the British and Japanese fleets. There is little fresh information concerning the land fighting. Singapore had four air raids last night. Japanese bombing and machine-gunning have been incessant. Eight enemy planes were shot down over Rangoon. One British plane was lost, but the pilot is safe. The Tokio official radio states that the Domei News Agency claimed to-day that the Japanese forces in Central Malaya had advanced 28 miles down the Johore railway and were within 25 miles of Singapore Island. A Government spokesman in Chungking appealed to Britain and the United States to rush reinforcements to Singapore, issuing a warning that its fall might lead to the eventual juncture of the German and Japanese armies in India. The heavy toll of Japanese shipping taken in the past week has shown that now is the proper moment to deal severe blows at the enemy at relatively low cost. More than 100 Japanese vessels and many planes were observed a few days ago in the harbour at Samyakang, Hainan Island.

A Singapore press message states that the Government has issued orders for the evacuation by noon on January 30 of all persons and livestock from a coastal strip one mile wide on the northern shore of Singapore Island. A Rangoon communique states: “British forces which made contact with the Japanese east of the Salween River are battering the enemy in a running combat, now in its sixth day. and will seriously impede the Japanese thrust southward, allowing valuable time for much-needed Allied reinforcements to arrive. The situation on the Tenasserim front is not changed. “The enemy’s drive on the Gulf of Martaban has been suspended in spite of his superior numbers. “Six enemy planes were destroyed over Rangoon to-day, and six more probably destroyed, while nine were damaged. We lost three planes, but the pilots were saved. “Blenheim bombers last night heavily raided the Bangkok docks, which were largely burnt out as the result of the previous raids. AU our planes returned.” The Berlin radio quotes a Tokio announcement that the British in Burma have been considerably reinforced and have established a strong defence line in the delta of the Irrawaddy. The Empire forces are standing firm west of the Salween River. Undefended Places Attacked It is officially stated from Batavia that “there has been no increase in enemy air activity. Bombs have been dropped on several undefended places in the outer provinces, causing little

material damage. Here and there to south-east Borneo bombs have been dropped and machine-gunning has taken place. The heaviest bombardment was canted out on Emmahaven, on the west coast of Sumatra, where a formation of seven bombers carried out nine attacks, inflicting material damage. Two merchant ships lying in the.harbour were set on fire, while a third was damaged. There were no casualties either ashore or aboard these ships.” There is no news from Balik Papan, the oil centre of Borneo. There is reason to assume that the Japanese occupied several completely destroyed and burnt out establishments. Reports from Kandari indicate that also at that place strong resistance is being offered. The first landing took place at Sempara, where the Japanese met with very strong resistance. However, radio Connections have been cut off, and further reports must be awaited before Information about the local situation can be given with certainty. In the vicinity of Ambon, again, some persons were killed and some wounded as a result of enemy air activity. Naval aircraft bombed the aerodrome and storage yards at Kuching. A later message states that the Thanet was accompanied by H.M.S. Vampire, which suffered no damage or casualties. It is hoped that many of the ship’s company of Thanet will have reached the shore. Vampire was completed in 1917. Her main armament consists of four four-inch guns. Thangt was completed in 1919 and had a main armament of three four-inch guns.