Evening star., 1942-01-16
U.S.. Navy Sinks 5 jap transports
And 2 Big Cargo Ships in Pacific;
British Stop Drive for Singapore
't2Armored Units
Are Smashed on
MoIoyon Front

-Moloyon Front
~ tks Associated Press.
SINGAPORE, Jan. 16.-Rally-
ing around . fresh force of bat
tle-hungry and 1ungle-wise Aus
tralians, the British imperial de-
tenders of Singapore appeared
today to have checked the Japa-
nese In their offensive toward
this vital Oriental base.
Two Japanese armored units were
reported shattered by the siffened
defense all along 4 shortened front
In lower Malaya. aided by consid-
erable aerial support.
While the air force smashed At
Japanese truck and railway con-
eentrations near Tampin, 120 miles
northwest Of Singapore, British i'm
perials lighting with fresh fury in
tAAG OYAoD&A b4 1R I'LL tll vi NlAC MA
lacea plain claimed to have knocked
ont a. Japanese tanks and 10 ar
mored vehicles.
An oAicial communique said ad-
vance guards OF the Australians
smashed six more tanks and inflict-
ed heavy casualties In their first
battle; since, the Malayan invasion
began. In the eastern part OF Negri
Senhilan State.
u. d. c., quoting 4 Reuters
dispatch on the Malacca coast
engagement. said "an enemy ar
Mored column was allowed to
advance over q bridge prepared
for demolition. When the COL
umn passed over the bridge. it
was blown up and the enemy en-
gased by artillery. Heavy cas-
ualties were inflicted on the Jap
anese and they ran for cover"
The broadcast was heard in New
York by c. B. s.
CThe japanese Sal
Son radio asserted japanese troops
had advanced within 81 miles OF
Singapore. The claim. uncon-
hrmed elsewhere, may be 4 typi-
cal example of Axis propaganda
First Fight Yesterday.
The Australians first night oc-
CURED yesterday. while their main
body, singing and eager for 4 fight.
moved into battle positions on the
principal Malayan front.
The Australians have been in
training in Malaga since last Feb
ruary. However. small Commando
units have been operating in
Central Malaga for several weeks.
spreading destruction behind the
japanese lines.
Following up yesterdays success,
the British command reported.
large force of planes attacked con-
eenTations Of japanese transport
and rolling stock on roads and rail-
ways in the Tampin area, west Of
yesterdays battle scene.
The command said the planes left
several vehicles burning. damaged
q number Of railway trucks and In
hicted casualties on the Japanese
Army.
The scene Of the air attack
indicated the British were hit
ting just behind the japanese
front lines in preparation for
big battle in the sector just
north of Ioforp statel
Nunber Of Barges Sunk.
The British also fiew far to the
rear Of the japanese spearhead
pushing down Western Malaga and
sank q number Of barses at Sungei
Linsgi, damaged several others and
attacked targets at Sungei Patani,
northeast Of Penang.
There was some contact with the
japanese on the western part of the
front but the general situation re-
mains unchanged, it was said.
(The reference to the western
part Of the front apparently
means the area in Nesri Sembilan
nearer the coast from the scene
Of the Australian battle TN East
ern Sembilan yesterday.
"a military commentator in
London said there was no con-
fifmation Of the japanese claim
that they had crossed into Johore
state, which is the last Malay
state north Of Singapore He
added 1t apparently was incorrect
and said the British had no in
formation the japanese were In
Malacca. which adjoins both
Nesri Sembilan and Johore.
(The Japanese have claimed
the occupation Of Gemas, a rail-
way junction in Johore Province
near the Negr1 Sembilan border
and. about 10 miles above Johore
Strait, to the south Of which lies
Singapore)
Singapore Raids Continue.
The japanese continued air raids
On Singapore. Planes were over the
island for several hours today and
bombs were dropped In several areas.
One preliminary report said at least
one japanese fighter was downed
The Ministry of Information said
the japanese used so bombers, es-
corted BY fighters. in yesterdays at
:, .lsSe MAIAYA, Page A-40