LITTLE CHANGE IN PACIFIC WAR ZONE SITUATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 294, 13 December 1941, Page 5

LITTLE CHANGE IN PACIFIC WAR ZONE SITUATION

RESISTANCE IS HARDENING

BRITAIN AND CHINA COLLABORATE TO DEFEND THE BURMA ROAD

t T*!er aph—Prcs> Association Cupyrght.> (Recd. 11.13 p.m London, Dec. 12 In the pa>t 24 hours there has hern little change in the Pacific war zone, but there arc signs that the resistance of the A.B.r D. Ahivriran. British, Chinese and Dutch Powers to th< surprise blows inflicted on tl* in. is hardening. The great I nited States nation is moling into its full war stride, following a nnanimou> v«d of Congress to d»* lair war on Germany and Italy. Japan* >r torn s arc reported to have landed on the Southeastern tip of Luzon Island, the chief portion of the Philippines. The landin’’, which is reported to be well in hand, was made at Legasbi. on the south-east tip of tin i>!and.

In the extreme north of the island, | United States forces arc reported to l have the situation well in hand and to have inflicted heavy casualties on the invadgrs. including naval units. Or. Wake Island the garrison has repelled , attempts to invade, nut no \ awaits further attacks. There is no further news from Hawaii, chief United States naval bast in the Pacific, which was bombed on Sunday. It is learned that 20 Japanese planes were shot dow n in Sunday’s raid. Colonel F. Knox. United State.Secretary of the Navy, has a:rived al Honolulu. There no change in the * general situMion in Malax a. News agencx correspondents, however, predict that the lighting there will flan up at any moment. British forces are in tauch with the enemy on thr Thai border, and 150 miles north of Singapore, where a Japanor attempt to land ami consolidate failed. British troops are maintaining an unbroken line. Naval reinforcements have arrived at Singapore from the Netherlands East Indies, which reports that mobilisation in those countries is now complete. Next .lapaiu-sr Mote The Chungking radio de. i that the next Japanese offensive ...11 be for the Burma Road, and it is expected tu start within a few days. High British and Chinese leaders, it is reported, have discussed the situation. but have refused to comment. At Hongkong the position is still stabilising in British favour. The garrison there learned with satisfaction to-day that Chinese forces are engaging the Japanese in the rear and on the flanks. In the Kwantung and Hunan provinces also, large forces of Chinese are attacking, and Chungking radio repoits that the Japanese have suffered 15.000 casualties. Chief of the Chinese forces, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, declared that now was the time for China to strike as she has never struck before. Confusion in Thailand Although the situation in Thailand remains exceedingly confused and information is scant?, it is stated authoritatively that the fact emerges dearly that the Japanese are in Thailand in force, and that the country must now be treated as enemy-occu-pied territory. Ng official decision has yet been reached, however, regarding the general British ait.tube to Thailand and its Government. The Associated Press Manila correspondent says that Japanese parachutists are reported to have seized an airport six miles from Milligan, in eastern Luzon. Sixteen Japanese planes divebombed Kuatan Aerodrome, in Malaya. causing some damage. A Netherlands communique reports that Australian bombers attacked a Japanese air base in Pobra Island. The Manila Tribune reports that 15 • Japanese planes were shot down in Wednesday’s raid on Manila, in which 3ft rivihans were killed and 25*» wounded. It is rrlianly reported from Manila that the Philippine Aim? recaptured the region around A parr i, driving the Japanese to the roast. It is stated that determined resistance by the Amer.can forces has confined the Japanese landings on Luzon to Aparri. Japanese an attack* in the vicinity of Manila were continuing particular!? at Cavite and Nirhoo Field. of American planes at Hawaii on Sunday, although heavy, have already been replaced. The United States Arm?’ to-day cal.rd for lO.nno nurses. Nothing Urong With -lap Eyesight An announcement that a number of aerodromes have temporarily been made unserviceable confirms information reaching Singapore from northern Mala? r* jai . ng the sc-veritx of Japanv.se :. at’a -> and their art ur a > L ing opponents in th- war again being realised here when- fur months past the qualil? of Japanese planes has constantly been qu ->tiune<! All people who*have seen examples ol Japanese bombing agree that there u not much wrong v. ith Japanese eyesight, nr bomb-sight x Japan** .r < aught b% Mnrhtnr-giins The Japan«-'< »t’« .... led tn lan* snnn troops at Kota Rani Two thousand got ashore and of them, only 2ftt survived. The e infiltrated mtn thr jungle, where they continued to at tack the aerodrome and later linker up with reinfor< en < nt> from Singora A.I.F. troops in Malaya have spent the last two n -yhts vaitjig fur tht enemy, who su far has no! apjieared The whole of daylight is bring giver to strengthening the drft-iues and « n forcing a 100 |»rr cent, evacuation ol flfvflians. The effect of the naval losses ha? hern to stiffen the men’s ietermina tion. They realise that if the? liolr their positions it ere <an he no rea danger to Singapore. A "Wp have no plan of withdraw a 1 y BRid a brigadier h*r« "Here we air and here we fight. The Japanese w.l never get through th* se men ’*