The Wilmington morning star., 1942-02-11
JAPS INCREASE FURY
OF SINGAPORE DRIVE
Continued From Page one)

the late afternoon on a scene of
striking contrasts.
To the north, columns of black
smoke billowed skyward from
burning oil tanks, providing SOM
ber backdrop for the stage on
which the grim drama is reaching
its climax.
Bombers Deliver Loads
The opposing guns ceased their
pounding for a brief moment but
darting in and out of the drifting
clouds of smoke, Japanese dive
bombers were delivering their last
loads of the day before darkness
called them back to their bases.
Near the center of the stage
clouds of light gray smoke arose
from rubber plants, pineapple can
neries and factories to which the
owners had applied the torch to
prevent their use by the enemy.
The scene to the south was one
of unnatural calm. In the far dis
tance wisps of smoke spiraled
slowly over fishing villages on the
small Dutch islands which dot the
straits between Malaga and Su-
matra.
Inside Singapore harbor steam
ers, Chinese junks, Malay fishing
craft and Sampans rode at anchor
just as they did when I first looked
over the waterfront a year ago.
Along main roads in the fore
ground motor cars, trolleys and
rickshaws were carrying people
home after the days work. In front
of the famous Raffles hotel cars
were depositing patrons of the
daily tea dance and outside the
movie house Immediately below
people were queueing up in front
of the box office to see Joel Nc
Crea and Ellen Drew in Reach
ing For the Sum-"
The oldest touch of unreality to
the entire scene was provided by
a letter which my fellow observer.
Eric Davis, director of the Ma
layan Broadcasting Corporation,
received from a gramophone cor
poration informing him that "rec-
ord number DB-is unavailable for
broadcast without special permis-
sion of Messrs. Walt Disney, Mick
ey Mouse, incorporated"
100000 Invaders
The enemy's troops were be-
lieved to stand 100000 strong on
the island itself and Immediately
across the strait, and with his
overwhelming air superiority he
was steadily extending the area of
his conquest.
The British command, in the Sec
ond successive communique to an
aounce a forced withdrawal of the
line, reported late In the
lay:
During last night the enemy
succeeded in making further land
ings on the island in the area be-
tween Sungei Mandai and Sungei
Kranji (the area along the north
ern part of the island eastward
from Kranji Estuary.)
''The enemy has maintained con-
,inuous dive bombing and machine
gun attacks on our forward areas
in the western sectors throughout
the day as well as hign-level bomb
ing attacks by large formations of
aircraft.
aimed heavy pressure and has con-
tinued to infiltrate in this area.
despite stubborn resistance,
here has been some further with
drawa1 of our forces"
During the early morning hours
Tres glowed red along the northern
island and later in the day gray
clouds and black pillars of smoke
'bscured the forward battle areas. !
dondon quarters were gloomy
over Singapore's grave situation,
out authoritative sources were IN
Lined to discount suggestions that
he Japanese had infiltrated into
he city itself. Latest information
to London, however, put the in
vader 10 miles from Singapore
City.
Gan exchange telegraph dispatch
to London reported that the British
were blowing up all oil tanks and
putting the torch to all rubber,
and otheIa factories in
tha northwest area dssthe island. 2