NEGLECT CHARGE

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21655, 16 February 1942, Page 4

NEGLECT CHARGE

DEFENCES OF MALAYA STORIES OF REFUGEES AIR PROTECTION LACKING Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Ca/Yyrlgot) NEW YORK, Feb. 14 American refugees who arrived in New York yesterday related shocking stories of neglect, which they allege resulted in the loss of the Malay Peninsula. All agreed that air protection was absolutely lacking and asserted that exaggerated self-confidence had been substituted for forethought. Preparations simply were not made.

Mr Elliot Simpson, secretary of the Rothschild Company, an importer of crude rubber, said: “I am going to Washington to lay the whole picture as I saw it before the State Department. My chief complaint will be how the British ordered the evacuation of the British women and children from Penang city without notifying the 40 American residents, the Indians or the Chinese. They would have left us behind. It was just an accident that we learned in time. Even the American Consul was not notified. t “Unbelievable Carelessness” “If the British lose the war,” added Mr Simpson, “it is because of pure and unbelievable carelessness.” Mr Simpson said there were only about 500 troops on Penang, not one anti-aircraft gun and no guns of any kind. "Camouflage was not attempted. Red-roofed housetops stood out like beacons. He contended that Penang was the key to Singapore. If it had been fortified all might have been saved. Moreover, 7000 tons of rubber and 5000 tons of tin were left on the piers. The New York Post, in an editorial article mentioning the radio commentator Cecil Brown, whose broadcasts from Singapore were recently banned by the Singapore authorities, says: “The officials in Australia show r ‘ wisdom by refusing to censor Cecil Brown’s radio reports. We can stand truth and be better for it. , “Let us squeeze every lesson we can from the Singapore struggle. To discuss the Singapore setback is now the first duty of all of us. What went wrong? The truth is our ally. We want to know.” Australian Criticism According to the Post, Mr Brown states that because of Singapore Australians are very angry, bitter and apprehensive, and that unprecedented criticism of the Mother Country is appearing in Australian newspapers. Mr Brown also criticises Australia, asserting that there are many aspects of unreadiness. He quotes one Australian newspaper editor as saying, “Conscription for the Army is one thing no one talks about. People here know that the salvation of this country depends on overseas troops, ships and aeroplanes,” which, of course, says the Post, can be interpreted in two ways.