Evening star., 1942-01-19
Americans Hit
|ka|ayan Field
For First Time
Australians Hold
Above Singapore;
Burmu Port Lost
BULLETIN.


down nine enemy planes in a
fight in the Netherlands In
dies, and, striking for the first
time in Malaga, had success
fully raided a Japanese-held
airdrome.
BY the Associated Press.
The Australian imperial force
turned back waves of Japanese
attackers today in the fierce de-
tense of Singapore, fulcrum of
the United Nations defense Sys-
tenn in the Southwest Pacific
region.
However, in the Burma zone,
north of Malaga, the British an
nounced they had withdrawn from
a southern port, Tavoy, just across
from Japanese occupied Thailand.
before superior japanese forces
facing the Imperials A Rangoon
communique added that the Japan
ese were believed already to have
based fighter planes on Tavoy.
Maj. Gen. Gordon Bennett, COM
mander Of the A. l. F., announced
that some of his troops had been
sent Ito stabilize the position" in
the Muar River area, where British
Indian troops had fallen back be-
fore the attackers.
Almost Immediately after the
Australians had taken up positions
the enemy launched a vigorous tank
attack which was beaten of by our
troops. The enemy lost eight tanks"
Gen. Bennett reported to the Aus
tralian Army Ministry at Melbourne.
Hold Ground Everywhere.
Again this morning-Monday-
the enemy attacked again. and again
were defeated by our troops. Aus
tralians are holding their ground
everywhere"
The Muar River zone, about 30
miles northwest of Singapore, had
developed as the softest spot of the
elastic defense line through Johore
state. The Japanese had threatened
to turn the entire defense line by
inf1ltrations and direct assaults in
that region, near the coast.
So confident were the Japanese
that they had found an easy road
to Johore Strait and Singapore that
Toxic claimed its flag flew less than
Is miles from the naval base.
Despite the hard-f1ghting stand Of
the Australian troops, however. word
received in Melbourne indicated that
the position in southern Malaga is
serious, particularly in view of in
sufncient air strength.
More Reinforcements Due.
Valuable air reinforcements have
reached Malaga, but not apparently
in sufficient strength to overcome
Japanese air superiority.
The Australian Associated Press
reported that important messages
received from the British govern
ment during the last 48 hours were
believed to contain assurances that
more reinforcements "are being ar
ranged and will be dispatched as
soon as possible"
The Rangoon communique an.
nouncing the withdrawal from Ia
voy said the action was carried out
in the face of superior enemy forces
and put Burma's defenders in more
| favorable positions.
British planes, it said, carried out
several raids resulting in the de-
struction of one enemy aircraft on
an occupied airfield.
Important Coastal City.
| Tavoy Is one of the two most
important coastal cities in the Bur-
ma panhandle, the 400-mile- long
slice of the Malay peninsula, which
extends side by side with Thailand
territory.
Tavoy, 200 miles down the pam
handle, has been used as an air
base by the British, who have been
attacking Japanese airf1elds at
Bangkok and other places in Thai
land.
With a population of $4,000, it
also is center Of Burma's tin in
dustry.
The Japanese drove west nearly
IS miles from the Thailand border
in four days to take the town after
fighting with imperial troops at
Myitta, some II miles inside the
Burma frontier.
Presumably the British retired to
the north toward Moulmein, the
chief town in the panhandle, which
is some ITO miles overland through
| rough mountainous country.