Evening star., 1942-02-15
COunteruttuckS
Even Regain
Some Ground
By the Associated Press.

LONDON, FeD. l4.-OlQSdpOIe D
defenders fought back in blaz-
ing hell tonight, using tanks for
the first time and subjecting the
constructing japanese lines to
violent shelling from big shore
guns, field batteries and war
ships.
After six days of terrific battle,
with the advantages of overwhelm-
ing numbers and of continuous high,
low and dive bombing to shatter a
gallant foe, the japanese still were
finding Singapore an exceedingly
tough nut to crack. In fact, the de-
tenders even regained some ground
In counterattacks.
The British Imperials still held at
least two of the water reservoirs
from which to quench the thirst of
thousands of civilians at their back,
the Singapore radio was heard to
say in Batavia tonight.
Our troops counterattacked at
one point at least and established
new line" the broadcast announced.
Terrific Barrages Laid Down.
japanese broadcasts heard here
admitted they had encountered ter
rife barrages laid down from big
coastal guns on Changi Point at the
northeastern tip of the island and
from other forts in that area, from
Blakang Matt Islands south OF
Singapore City, from warships
around the city and from mass artil-
lery in the reservoir section north
west of the city.
The Changi and Blakang Matt Is
land forts we're erected to repel sea-
borne invasion, but the japanese
broadcasts did not make clear
whether it was the biggest IA and
ls inch artillery which were ham,
mering their lines or the lesser bat
teries.
The Singapore broadcast beard in
Batavia said British tanks went into
action for the first time during the
battle, and also mentioned 400 shells
an hour fired by some heavy British
field artillery supported by the shore
defenses.
A number of wounded from
SINGAPORE, who arrived at Batavia,
declared the defenders were fight
ing in a blazing hell" with flames
roaring around them, smoke billow-
ing over them and japanese relays
of bombers dropping a hail OF ex-
plosives in their midst.
No Thought of Evacuation.
But there was no thought of
military evacuation, these wounded
declared.
THE imperial troops will fight to
the last man and the last round"
they said.
The civilian population has been
fully mobilized to fight fires, par
ticipate in passive defense and re-
lieve distress, the refugee wounded
said.
The people of Singapore sleep
anywhere, civilians and soldiers
lying down side by side in streets,
bitches, parks and the countryside.
All normal business was at a
standstill, but one newspaper kept
going.
(The German radio said early
Sunday that latest japanese dis
patches from Singapore told OF
additional landings on the west
coast of the island after heavy
artillery preparations.
CThe invaders were said to
have made a further advance
toward Panjang, about 6 miles
northwest of Singapore City,
Reach Paya Lebar Area.
Today's communique said that
despite the stubborn dispute OF
every inch of ground, the Japanese
had driven from the race course,
water reservoir and rail line section
northwest of the city into the Paya
Lebar area, a village about 3 miles
from the outskirts.
Apparently this meant that a
wedge had been showed into the
middle of the line, stretching in a
general north and south direction
across the island from Tanglin,
about 2 miles west of Singapore
City, to the naval base on Johore
Strait.
Whether the counterattack, sub
sequently announced by the broad
cast heard in Batavia, was against
this salient was not clear.
japanese broadcasts declared they
had occupied the Seletar naval base
at noon today, and said their bomb
ing attacks on 80 naval and mer-
chant ships in Singapore harbor had
set two 10,000-ton transports blaz-
ing and damaged number Of others
with direct hits.
Ships Aid Reported.
These broadcasts asserted Japa-
rese naval forces opened the way
to the huge naval base, but it was
not clear here how any japanese
warships could have managed to get
there inasmuch as big batteries
were still active at the mouth Of
Johore Strait.
The Singapore broadcast heard in
Batavia said some of these big guns
smashed the causeway which con-
meets the island with the mainland
Friday night and again made it i'm
passable. This tended to confirm q
Japanese claim that they had tenn
porarily bridged the original break
caused by British dynamiting two
weeks ago.