Evening star., 1942-01-08
British Are Forced to Retreat
Further in Malaga as japanese
Drive FuriousIy at Singapore
English Lose IS
Airports; Kuolo
Lumpur Menuced


British jungle fighters de-
Tending the road to Singapore
were forced to execute a new
withdrawal today south Of the
Slim River, in Northwest Malaga,
as Japan's invasion hordes
struck down the peninsula with
peak fury in drive aimed at
kuala Lumpur.
The Slim River, a tributary of
the Bernam River dividing Perak
and Selangor Provinces, is so miles
north of Kuala Lumpur, Malayas s
second city, 240 miles from Singa-
pore.
British Far East headquarters said
the retirement was necessary to pre-
serve a solid front
TOXIC dispatches broadcast by the
German radio said japanese troops
now threaten the outer positions Of
Kuala Lumpur" and that japanese
tanks and artillery had crossed a
river west of the town. cutt>,g off
the rear of British defense forces.
Kuala Lumpur is 240 miles north of
Singapore.
Defense forces imposed a curfew
on Kuala Lumpur and its residents
were ordered to stay in their homes
between pm and am.
The German radio, quoting last
TnHin - id
the japanese had opened An all-out
offensive aimed at Singapore, Brit
aims No. defense stronghold in the
Far East.
Is Airdromes Lost.
In London it was admitted that
20 far the British have lost Is air
dromes during retlrements in
Malaga.
Coincidlng with the japanese land
drive southwark, Japanese warplanes
were reported to have violently
attacked military objectives in Dutch
Sumatra, across the narrow Malacca
Strait from Singapore. and raided the
big Netherlands Indies naval base al
Amboina for the second time in two
DAYS.
Dispatches from Singapore de-
clared that British troops were hold-
ing fast under the first impacts Of
the japanese frontal assault toward
Kuala Lumpur. capital of Selangor
state. with the japanese attempting
to advance down the main north
south road from Ipoh, in Perak state,
l20 miles north of Kuala Lumpur.
Fifth Division Leading.
The British said Japan's 5th Divi-
sion veterans of dozen campaigns
in China. was leading the offensives,
supported by swarms of bomber and
-bombers.
Once again-as in France. Greece
and Crete-the British appeared to
have lost air superiority and were
being sorely punished from the skies,
The situati north of Kuala
Iumpar was obscure. Singapore
dispatches, however, said British
troops had launched bold counter
offensive in the Kuala SelangOr
sector. 35 miles northwest of Kuala
Lumpur. and were beginning to deal
with" the japanese in the green-hell
jungle and swamp wilderness be-
tween the Bernam and Selangor
Rivers
Across the Malay Peninsula on
the east coast British spokesman
said there was no word of any fur
ther japanese advance from Kuan-
tan, 100 miles north of Singapore.
Terrific Battle Reported.
The japanese news agency Domei
broadcast a report that terrific
battle is under way between the
British and japanese along the bor-
der between the Malayan states of
Perak and Selangor. Domei said the
japanese frightened an encircle-
ment" of British troops resisting
from defense lines built along the
edge of dense jungles.
Meanwhile, reliable British sources
said there was no confirmation of a
japanese claim that mechanical
units supported by planes had ad-
vanced along the eastern Malayan
coast to the border region of Johore.
That would put the invaders within
about 80 miles from Singapore.
The German radio quoted the
Toxic newspaper Yomiuri as saying
the British had been pursued to the
Johore frontier. The Germans also
broadcast report that the British
had been cleared out of an area $50
miles north of Singapore.
Landed Month Ago.
The japanese 5th Division landed
In Southern Thailand month ago.
1t was said by the ministry of infOr-
nation in Singapore to be the same
division defeated by the Chinese at
Taerchwang in Shantung Province
in May, 1888, after whipping Chinese
regulars and Chinese Communist
army in the fall of 1887.
The 5th Division also led the Jap
anese forces which later captured
Canton in 1888 and Manning. in
Kwangsi Privince. in 1899.
lie otIl blVlSiOll oIlCe CduSeu IIle
japanese emperor to make an
apology 1t violated an agreement
with he French. crossed into Indo-
China and cut up or captured an
entire French army corps at Langson
and Dong Dang. Apologizing TO the
French, Emperor Hirohito recalled
the divisions commander.