BEFORE THE FALL

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21655, 16 February 1942, Page 5

BEFORE THE FALL

STUBBORN ALLIED FIGHT EVACUATION OF WOUNDED JAPANESE BOMB SHIPS (United Press Assn.—Elcc. tci. Copyrlplit) LONDON, Feb. 14 A communique from Singapore stated that on Friday afternoon enemy attacks developed in the Paya Lebar area, about four miles north-by-east of the outskirts of the city, and also in the west. Both were in considerable strength. On Saturday the enemy maintained his pressure, supporting his attacks with a number of high-level bombing raids by large formations of aircraft, continual shelling by artillery, and low dive-bombing attacks. Japanese artillery also shelled the city intermittently throughout Friday night and Saturday morning. In the city itself the civil defence services are making every effort to deal with the damage and civil casualties caused by the hostile shelling and bombing. An earlier report said that British tanks were in action against the enemy and that the Japanese on the island were being bombarded by the island’s shore defence guns, which had been turned round. The Japanese were replying with ceaseless artillery fire and dive-bombers. The enemy had made some infiltration into Singapore city itself. Defence of City

A communique issued in Singapore on Saturday said British, Australian, Indian and Malayan troops had stopped every attempt to march toward the heart of Singapore city. Although the wounded were being removed from Singapore, there was no suggestion of withdrawing ablebodied men, said the correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Cornparty, who has arrived at Batavia from the island in a ship which was bombed every few minutes on the trip. He said the Singapore water supply was still in British hands. A 20,000-ton transport, a former luxury liner, was dive-bombed seven miles off Singapore. It was hit three times amidships and burst into flames. An Australian warship which was escorting it went alongside and took off 1334 troops. The warship lowered its whaleboats, which picked up over 200 men from the water. Another escorting warship picked up still more survivors. The Australian warship shot down three Japanese aeroplanes during the attack.