HEAVY FIGHTING IN MALAYA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22185, 31 January 1942, Page 5

HEAVY FIGHTING IN MALAYA

Japanese Nearing Singapore Increasing Air Activity By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 29. Latest news from Singapore states that the Japanese forces in the central sector are reported to be 18 miles from the Singapore Causeway. In the western sector the Japanese are 26 miles away and in the eastern sector about 45 miles away. Enemy raids are on an increasing scale, and some damage has been done. Two enemy planes were shot down. During a fight in the morning, British fighters destroyed one enemy plane and damaged several others. The Japanese are making greater use of the air for attacks on British forward positions and communications. Heavy land fighting continues. Over 1000 British troops who were cut off in the Batu Rabat area have rejoined the main body. An earlier report from Malaya stated that the nearest point to Singapore reached by the enemy is within 25 miles. A message from Major-General Gordon Bennett, commanding the Australians in Malaya, reports incessant bombing and machine-gunning by the Japanese. “Reports now received from the east coast front show that a successful action was carried out by Australian troops, the enemy being caught between our forward elements and the first of our artillery,” states a communique from Singapore. “The enemy casualties are\ estimated to be about 250 while ours were about 30. In this area our troops are in contact with the enemy about Ulu Sedill. “Yesterday, on the centre sector of the front, a company of an Australian battalion successfully counter-attacked the enemy with bayonets. The enemy casualties were estimated at 200 with, it is believed, no loss to our troops. In this sector our troops are in contact with the enemy in Layang-Layang area. There was considerable enemy air activity in this area throughout yesterday. “There is no change to report in the situation in the western sector. Raiders Driven Off “Reports show that no military damage was caused yesterday in raids made by enemy aircraft on the Singapore area. A formation of enemy bombers which approached Singapore Island this morning was driven off by our fighter aircraft and forced to jettison its bombs. Reports indicate that as a result of this interception, one enemy Aircraft was destroyed and another probably destroyed. Other formations attacked targets on the island. Reports of the damage and casualties have hot yet been received. “In addition to one enemy aircraft announced as damaged during Tuesday’s raids on Singapore, one fighter was destroyed and one damaged. Reports now show that in the Singapore area our anti-aircraft defences shot down for certain one enemy aircraft on January 27 and one on January 28. No change is reported in the situation on the Burma front except that there has been slight enemy activity in the south. British and American pilots wiped out a Japanese fighter aeroplane formation this afternoon, destroying at least 13 enemy machines and possibly four more without loss. Twenty-five Japanese aeroplanes yesterday attempted to raid an aerodrome north of Rangoon. Ten were shot down and nine damaged.

Enemy Held In Philippines In the Philippines General MacArthur’s forces are still holding up the enemy advance. Slight enemy air activity is reported over the Bataan Peninsula. The first Congressional Medal of Honour of the war has been awarded to an American Second-Lieutenant in the Philippines. This officer displayed great bravery in fierce hand-to-hand fighting and fought his way through the enemy before he himself was captured. General MacArthur transmitted to the War Department a message from President Quezon: “The determination of the people of the Philippines to continue fighting side by side with the United States until victory is won had been in no way weakened by the temporary reverses suffered by our arms. We are convinced that our sacrifices will be crowned with victory in the end. In that conviction we will continue to resist the enemy with all our might. Tire Japanese forces are occupying only one-third of our territory. In the remaining areas constitutional Government is still in operation under my authority.”