GUERRILLAS IN MALAYA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 15, 19 January 1944, Page 5

GUERRILLAS IN MALAYA

BRITISH OFFICERS AS LEADERS JAPANESE OUTNUMBERED Recd. 9 p.m. Chungking, Jan. 17. Guerrillas are operating in the Malayan mountains and forests, led oy British officers who survived Singapore’s fall, the Rev. Marcus Cheng, a prominent Chinese Christian, who escaped from Singapore last year, reported to-day. Rev. Cheng said tne guerrillas outnumbered the Japanese lorce.s by six to one and consist mainly of Chinese troops, with some British, Australians and Indians. The crack Japanese troops who seized Singapore were transferred elsewhere and Malaya is garrisoned mainly with sailors who lost their ships. Thousands of natives died because oi scanty rations. Rev. Cheng said the Australians were forced to build railroads and perform other hard labour. British prisoners were assigned to humiliating tasks formerly done by the humblest coolies in picture shows, opium dens and bars which were doing a thriving business in Singapore. After capturing Singapore the Japanese bayoneted and killed every Chinese against whom there was tne slightest suspicion. Many Malayan natives joined the guerrillas rather than enhst in military service with the Japanese. British-led guerrillas, armed with trench mortars, machineguns and rifles, have been harassing the Japanese. British and Australian officers organised the guerrillas and trained them in mobile warfare and have rejected all Japanese demands to surrender.

Rev. Cheng said operation of the tin mines was suspended because the Japanese lack tne technique and machinery for production and ships for transportation. A gasoline shortage has forced the Japanese to use charcoal burners in vehicles. The Chinese in Malaya have suffered most at the hands of the invaders. In two searches for patriots the Japanese arrested and carried away 30,000 Chinese and none have been heard ol since. ALLIED PLANES ACTIVE IN INDO-CHINA Recd. 6 p.m. Chungking, Jan. 17. Lieut.-General Stilwell's communique says: “Mitchells raided a power plant at Hongay, Indo-China, strafing the entire area. Bombs demolished an outbuilding and scored a near-miss on the mam buildings. They also directly hit railway installations. Other Mitchells sank a collier off Swatow; Then they bombed a lighthouse and destroyed many buildings on Nanpeng Island. Mitchells out of the Chinese-American wing, sweeping the South Chi ta coast, shot down a Japanese medium bomber. All our machines returned.”