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December 9th 1941
Daily Sketch
British Troops Are Mopping-Up the Malaya Invaders
Severe fighting has takenplace in Malaya between British forces and Japanese invaders landed from the sea
The Japanese are being mopped-up following air attacks on the warships and transports which landed them and which were forced to retire.
This was the news given in Singapore last night and followed an earlier announcement by Lieut-General A.E. Percival, G.O.C. in Malaya, that Japanese forces had landed near Kota Bahru in the North.
Singapore Raids
Singapore had two air raids yesterday, one of which casualties totalled 193. No bombs were dropped on the big naval base.
The first full story of how the fighting developed and how Japanese transports and warships were spotted and shadowed by British planes was told in a communiqué issued in Singapore last night.
“Our reconnaissance planes on Saturday (the day before the attack was actually made) and Sunday located a large number of Japanese ships escorted by warships off Indo-China and the South China seas. One of these planes was engaged by anti-aircraft fire from a warship.
“Towards dusk on Sunday a small number of ships was seen nearer the coast of Malaya, and about 1.30 am approached the Kelantan river, north of Kota Bahru and landings began under cover of fire from warships.
‘Severe Fighting’
“Fire was immediately opened by our troops, and later severe fighting developed on shore, particularly in the Kota Bahru aerodrome.
“In this confused and difficult fighting around Kota Bahru, famous Indian units are reported to have distinguished themselves.
“Later, ten more merchant ships were located farther south. Royal Australian Air Force bombers attacked these vessels by moonlight offshire and by daylight. At least two enemy ships were hit and set on fire.
“At daybreak several bomber torpedo squadrons took off to continue the attack, with results no yet known.
“By 8 am all remaining enemy ships appeared to be retiring to the north, leaving some landing craft and troops ashore, which are being mopped-up by our land forces.
“Air reconnaissance later this morning disclosed that landings were taking place in Patani (in Thailand, just north of the Malaya borders) and the Singora area in southern Thailand.
“A formation of Japanese aircraft attacked the Singapore area, but no damage was done to military objectives, although there was some civilian damage and casualties.
After daylight air attacks were made against three aerodromes in Northern Malaya, but reports so far indicate that little damage had been done.
“It was reported from Hong Kong this morning that enemy air attacks had been made against military objectives in that area.”
First Landing
A communiqué issued in Singapore earlier, quoted by British United press, told how the first landing was made at Kemassin, ten miles south of Kota Bharu, which led to infiltration towards Kota Bharu, while another landing was made at Dabak, north of Kemassin.
Unconfirned reports in Singapore said that mustard gas had been dropped during the Japanese raids on Singapore.
Battle positions in Hong Kong have been manned by British troops and demolition work has been going on actively in the forward area.
Two Japanese raids have been made on the colony, in the first of which 27 planes took part, dropped a few incendiaries and then dive-bombed abd machine-gunned different areas.
A communiqué issued yesterday said that battle positions had been manned at dawn.
“Parties which were already in position blew up demolitions in the forward area.,” it said.
“The Japanese are putting field bridges across the frontier at two places, and are expected to cross shortly.”
Parties of between 300 and 400 Japanese could be seen on the other side of the frontier.
Penang Air Raid
Koloon, a suburb of Hong Kong was among the places raided today, slight damage and casualties being caused.
The British Concession in Tientsin has been occupied by Japanese troops, the German radio stated last night.
Penang, off the western coast of Malaya Peninsula had its first air-raid warning yesterday when eight planes flew over the town. They machine-gummed the air field, but there were no casualties.
Japanese planes were also reported over the mainland opposite Penang. Bombs were dropped causing several casualties.
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