The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-19

Known tnat tnree Japanese planes
were destroyed during the heavy
raids on Singapore yesterday. The
casualty list was put at Sc killed
and 1856 wounded, mostly civilians
bringing the total casualties In raids
Saturday and Sunday to 186 killed
and 235 wounded.
Attacked under cover OF gray
clouds, the Japanese yesterday bomb
ed the naval base area and started
fires which, 1t was admitted, were
serious.
Bombs which struck an oil depot
started fires which burned for many
hours. Several fires were put out but
firemen and volunteers were kept
busy trying to isolate and control
the others.
1t was admitted that 1870 persons
had been killed and 100 wounded in
raids on Singapore Saturday.
British planes heavily bombed
freight yards in the Gemas sector
100 miles from Singapore, where the
Japanese were concentrating troops
and supplies, and many railroad
cars burst into flames.
The planes damaged many motor
trucks along the roads near Gemas
and other planes bombed and ma
chine gllnned invasion barges at the
mouth Of the Muar river on the west
coast, where the Japanese had es-
tablished bridgehead on the south
bank.
British fighter planes downed two
Japanese planes damaged two and
probably shot down an additional
five over Singapore yesterday in ad-
dition to one downed over the fight
ing lines. One British fighter plane
crashed but the pilot landed safe.
German Report On Malaga
Berlin, Jan. 10 - (Offcial broad
casts recorded by United Press in
London and New York; - Japanese
troops are fighting British forces al
a point less than rs miles from
Singapore, the Berlin radio said to-
day, and the final battle" for the
British island naval base has be-
gun.
German dispatches quoted To-
kyo announcement that japanese
forces advanced along the west
coast Of the Malaga Peninsula in
order to engage the British troops.
The japanese troops were report
ed driving for the southernmost
point Of the peninsula, which would
be the causeWay at Johore Bahru,
leading directly into the islands ma
val base area.
The point of battle Is miles north
of Singapore was described as
"about the same distance west OF
Johore Bahru.'
A Tokyo broadcast said Japanese
troops were advancing like an i'm
mense pair of tongs from west and
north in the peninsula and driving
the British defenders of Singapore
together near Johore Bahru, which
was described as the last remaining
British base in the southern part OF
the peninsula.
From Johore Bahruba railway line
runs to Singapore across the mar
row Johore Strait, which divides the
mainland from the island fortress.
japanese dispatches estimated
the number of British troops as
sembled at this spot at 10000 and
said that should they be compelled
to retreat to Singapore there would
be q considerable increase in food
and water supply difficulties on the
island.
Japanese reports said that during
the night of January 16 their raid
ers shot down or destroyed on the
ground 10 British planes and that
this morning Japanese air forma-
tons operating near Malacca, in CO.
operation with ground forces, shot
down four British planes and des-
troyed two Blenheim bombers on the
ground.
Japanese troops marching on
Singapore are being reinforced by
attachments landed from small yes
sells at various parts of the coast, a
special correspondent of Nichi Nichi,
japanese newspaper, reported today.
Australia Sends Hope
Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 10 -
(UP) - War Minister F. M. Forde
cabled the Australian force in Ma
laya today that ten government was
taking emergency steps to strength
en- the Imperial Air Force there.
Forde congratulated Major Gen.
eral Henry Gordon Bennett, COM
manding the Australians, on the
magnificent" fight of his men and
said the government and people Of