FIERCE FIGHTING IN MALAYA, HONGKONG. PHILIPPINES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 293, 12 December 1941, Page 5

FIERCE FIGHTING IN MALAYA, HONGKONG. PHILIPPINES

KOTA BHARU AERODROME HAS APPARENTLY FALLEN

MANILA REPORTS SITUATION IS NOW WELL IN HAND

BRITISH STABILISE HONGKONG FRONT

(By Telegraph—Pres* Association—Copyright.) !»• JI Loudon, Dee. 11. Heavy fighting- is reported in the time main theatres of war in th. Pacific in the Philippines, round Hongkong, and in northern M; lava. In Malaya, the British line has re-established itself s.'Uth of Kuta Bharu. and apparently the aerodrome there is in < nciny hands. Attacks on Hongkong have been repulsed and the British report that the position there is Stabilised. In the Philippine- it is reported that the position is will in hand. The Japan. -> ire fighting to advance southwards. Manila has been dive-bondi.d. I’niled States bombers hate attacked a -lapam>< battleship, which, wh.-n last seen, was ablaze.

The situat.on has been -stabilised al Hongkong following repulsion of two attacks from Shanghai. Two boatload.* at tempting to cross Tide Cove were sunk and the landing survivors were wiped out. A Washington message says that it is officially stated that the Japanese have cut the cable connecting America and Hongkong. The cut appears to be west of Midway Island and thus has not inteifered with the important service to Honolulu. A wrond ( nited State* War Department communique states that the enemy is definitely attempting to invade Luzon < Philippines). Initial attack* on the west coast north of San Fernando were repulsed, uilh ap|Kirent heavy enemy losses. The Japanese landed on the north coast with considerable strength and were supported by heavy naval forces. The military and naval installations on Luzon were intermittently attacked throughout the day. including a particularly heavy attack on Cavite. WASHINGTON, Det 10. The defeat of rhe Japanese attempt to land cn the west coast of Luzon is announced in a communique issued by the War Department. United States bombers attacked the six Japanese transports engaged in the landing operation.* and ->red direct hits on three, one of which capsized. Three others were damaged. Enemy Parachutist* A Manila message says the Philippine Constabulary captured enemy parachutists at W.„an, 2UU miles north-west of Manila informed circles say the Japanese Air Force is using German equipment. German-marke«i 2b m.m. .hells were tired from Japan- < ese planes m yesterday’s raid on Clark ( Field, when casualties were caused. * There are n<> operations in the ! Southern Philippines yet. It was officially announced in Washington that Lieut.-General D. Macart-hur (Com- ' mander-in-Chief of the United States j forces in the Philippines) had confirmed a Japanese landing on the northern poifit of Luzon which is the most important island in the Philippines group with a population of 4.000.000 Manila is on the south-east-ern end of this island and it is being subjected to almost continuous ait raids. General Macarthur stated that the United States forces were vigorously resisting the invasion. A Singapore rej>ort slates that British Hudson bombers scored hits on two transports and a troop-laden barge which landed Japanese forces in North Malaya. The Japanese ships beat a hasty retreat after depositing the troops on the oraches. British forces mowed down the Japanese with machine-gun tire and those who penetrated the jungle in hand-to-hand fighting. Reports reaching Singapore indicate that the position of the defend- i ing forces m Northern Malaya leaves no ground for complacency. The aerodromes there are being constantly attacked by large forces of enemyplanes. which are dive-bombing recklessly. The Japanese are doing their Utmost to rentier the up-country-fields untenable and force the R.A.F. and R A.A.F to relinqu sh them in favour of aerodromes near Singapore.