Evening star., 1942-02-03
Foe Concentrates
roops at Tip Of
Malay Peninsula
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SINGAPORE, Feb. Wave
after wave of japanese bombers
hurled high explosives at this
great British bastion today while
Nipponese troops concentrated
at the tip of conquered Malaga
for an attempt to storm the
island.
4n Toxic the Japanese mill
tary spokesman said a general
Japanese offensive against Singa-
pore fortress would be launched
soon according to careful plans.)
With imperial forces drawn up
along the mile wide moat of Johore
Strait and watchful around the en-
tire 70-mile perimeter of this strong
hold, flremen and police were kept
busy throughout the interior con-
trolling fires lit by the Japanese
bombs.
Enemy dive bombers added their
screaming fury to the attack, but
the British communique said mill
tary casualties had been slight.
The United Nations struck back
with raid on the Kluang Airdrome,
so miles north, where many of the
attacvkers were believed to be based.
Number of Fires Set.
In the section of Singapore City
whiAh bore the brunt of this morn
ing's bombing, authorities and A.
R. P. squads cleared away the debris
within a few minutes to make way
for fire trucks which quickly played
water on a number of high leaping
fires.
When one of the shirt-sleeved
civilians who was laying hose
Strengthened up for moment, he
was recognized as Sir Shenton
Thomas. Governor of the Straits
Settlements. He was working along
side scores of natives.
Nearby, 1t. Gen. A. E. Percival,
commander of the defending army
forces, was directing men removing
valuable materials from ware
house in the path of the flames
Singapore's civilians and ranking
military men plunged unhesitatingly
into the most dangerous spots to
localize the damage. CO.. -.
Every one. from the Governor and
general down to the lowliest coolie,
bent to his tasks with vigor'" 0,
Aside from the air attack virtually |
no military action worthy of mem |
ton occurred during this fourth day
OF siege. The big guns poised along
the narrow Johore Strait fired in
termittently, but so far the targets
have been well concealed.
Japs Move Through Jungle.
The gloomy wall of AFRAID sirens
filled the air, off and on, through
out the day.
R. A. F. reconnaissance showed a
considerable movement of enemy
troops southwark through the lush
green Malaga jungles.
Singapore stood up we'll to the in
tenslfled japanese aerial assaults
which started at daybreak with low
level bombingS and strafing of tar
gets in the outlying districts. The
raids were climaxed near noon with
concentrated blastings by formations
OF high-fying twin-engined bombers.
The light japanese planes which
opened the morning attacks were
peppered vigorously by ground
batteries.
Heavy smoke and cloud banks
shielded the island to some extent
during the afternoon when a small
formation of japanese planes con-
tinued the raid.
Heavy Barrage Thrown Up.
Singapore's guns threw up a heavy
barrage when the first formation of
nine bomberS roared over the CITY.
An even heavier curtain of steel
was hurled skyward when 27 bomb
ers came over later.
Anti-aircraft shells burst amid the
leading flight of three bombers. one
of which trailed smoke and lost al
tltude. BY the time the formation
disappeared the stricken japanese
plane was fluttering, just clearing
the distant tree tops.
Confldent of their ability to make
the invaders pay dearly for a mass
assault across Johore Strait, i'm
perial forces kept sharp watch to
thwart any repetition of the sly
1nflltration tactics which forced
them to yield the Malayan main
land, but there was no sign vet of
any ground activity.
Bombing activity, however, was
described by a communique as con-
(Coo CTNC ADOBE naa o.