Evening star., 1942-02-09

In event OF defeat. They had to
throw the Japanese out or accept
death. There was no talk of sur
render
Penetration Made Eastward.
While the roar of artillery re-
verberated across the island sun
scorched Australians, Indians, Brit
ish, Scottish Highlanders and hastily
recruited Chinese rushed to mop up
the forces which had gained foot
hold. But it was admitted the Jap
anese jungle fighters had succeeded
in making penetrations eastward.
japanese artillery, thickly planted
along the opposite shore, blasted the
defenders positions and raked the
island as far as Singapore City it
self, while japanese dive bombers
patrolled the skies and strafed the
roads.
British artillerymen dueled with
the Japanese batteries, endeavoring
to knock out enemy guns.
British hurricanes fought des-
perate engagements in the skies with
some success against the numbers
of Japanese planes which sought to
dominate the air.
Other air raiders appeared over
Singapore City, on the southern side
OF the island, but these were met by
British fighters which destroyed 3
planes, probably destroyed more
and damaged 13.
Today's air victories were said to
have brought to 73 the number of
japanese planes definitely shot
down over Singapore. In addition,
81 more were listed as probably
shot down
Defenders Flee, Japs Say.
The Toxic radio, relaying dis
patches which it said originated
with land forces on Singapore, pic
tured the defenders as in flight
along the highways leading toward
the southern part of the island.
One report said the first landing
was signaled at 1915 am. GIG
pm, E.'W. T) yesterday with a
green flare which was followed In
four minutes by red flare to sig
nifty the completion of that opera
ton.
The Japanese estimated the de-
Tending forces at 10000 men. More
trustworthy indications were that at
least $4,000 men were on Singapore
Island to oppose the headlong rush
by the japanese troops who had
pushed the length of the Malayan
mainland to Johore Strait since the
start Of the war in the Pacific.
Barage Protects Landing.
The Japanese landing was effected
from boats under cover of an in
tense artillery barrage between
Sungei Kranji and Pasir Laba. west
OF the narrow cauSeway which for
merly linked Singapore with the
Malayan mainland.
Our forward troops were pushed
back in some places and there has
been some enemy inflltration east
wards" the Singapore communique
acknowledged.
There were no indications OF at
tempted invasion thrusts elsewhere
along Johore Strait, but the British
said Japanese bombers and fighters
had been pounding their defenses
everywhere since daybreak.
Presumably the japanese used in
vasion barges to cross the narrow
strait, the western reaches of which
are less than a mile wide in some
places.
Barrage Began Yesterday.
The assault came just 10 days
after the last British forces had
been Withdrawn from the Malayan
mainland where for six weeks they
had fought losing struggle as the
Japanese drove more than 400 miles
down the peninsula from the Thai
border.
The artillery bombardment pre-
ceding the assault, in anticipation
Of which the British had been fe-
verishly mastering every resource
on the island, began at dawn yes
terday and continued unabated
throughout the day and night.
From guns and mortars of all
SeAoSAo oAiV ooPdllCoC 1d1llCo SOCCl
on British defense positions 'front.'
ing the 35-mile-long strait.
Japanese warplanes ranged over
head, unloading tons of bombs and
screaming down to machine-gun
every sign of movement on roads
for some distance behind the front.
After launching their lombard
ment the japanese, in an apparent
attempt to trick Singapore's de-
tenders out of position and pave
the way for the main attack in the
west, tented suddenly yesterday at
the British right flank, landing
troops on tiny Palau Ubin island at
the eastern end of Johore Strait.
Although Palau Ubin is only about
Q half mile from Singapore island
q some points. there was no indi-