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THE BATTLE
BATTLE FOR HONG KONG
OFFICIAL DESPATCHES OF MAJ.-GENERAL MALTBY RELEASED BY WAR OFFICE Stubborn Defence Of HKVDC
LONDON, JAN. 29.
THE GRIM DRAMA OF THE 18 DAYS STRUGGLE BY BRITISH, IN- DIAN AND CANADIAN TROOPS TO HOLD BACK THE VASTLY SUPERIOR JAPANESE FORCES WHICH ATTACKED AND CAP- TURED HONG KONG IN DECEMBER, 1941, WAS TOLD FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY.
M
The official despatch of Major General C.
Maltby, who was General Officer Command- ing. British Troops in China, and responsible for the defence of the elony, was published by the War Ollice as a supplement to the Lon- don Gazette.
In his despatch, compiled while he was a prisoner of the Japanese, he gave the first day-by-day story of the defence and fall of Hong Kong.
26 tate of affairs was not reflect †
May 4t
Malby
. ויוד
ng that Embury despatches fr. in * mend abdd to Britain's
Heath weal ---
ויי!
יין יין
the t
1,
General M
"Thi
#
In the Jason, agmeita ad
tmas Day.
work tglad was Gresk in
142
יו: י . .4 ...
ogle. Wath
ne the Bu
color than
for
yo
Limitations
"That the full civd defence
The OPEN were Feat
tang had definite
hgh standard sightwork.
afficiency in
"All were provided with rab Lag werberst be by that made their movement very silent, Syat m
tally they used the smallest paths and avoided all the uro obvious Enes of tulvance, aul Their patrols were very, soldly handled.
"The pace of the advance was surprisingly fast, the troops
were lightly equipped and mist kve ben very fit to accomplish Bir murches andertaken,
"pies led the Trading ele- ente ext th mainland, dis.
Autosed
on the ulospent pow
de fonce zeed werg of as The temy in fair tivo anthe entire
nel Is
NX
innocent laboarers:
arnest agents in
Kloon and Hong Kong vs matically fired during the bours of darkness D
troops, sentries, car and despatch
mate that I did say that.
riders. but little damage was and the Iwanese Jarcitol a
dane beyourl straining the poor offensive at the anerys of a number of the men.
nere.
"After the landing on the is land, penetration to cst the
1. Major Drukere Love," }
son why
1. Eween the perical codeded with | tlavor ezing of the frontis island in half was assisted by
at of the otarvation of the main beal gaides who led the co land be mo fees shodd not stead the tried of ten days
whate Depen
and a plan to find the Land of Hong I nos
"The ad a
14.
Cardi ot depe X. 14, 1941.
***
tun dues
my plan te
placed on
1
norand
Runn inutes.
in Dinker Lane," with "The forces under my em top that. pivan a certain mam! had HRAY limitations, of
by sh post ditenli
Accurate Maps
graranter #ad All ma nau that this was a
IE Was obvious that the fatimat. and might well enemy system 1 inteligence |
been aver mplished had was most complete. a jumpflour and have
Hey, ender at the key to one postan "Marked majm fontul on dead rainland to tha mainiand beer captured by officers gave k surprisbe prepare at difend the soul sumpte by the enemy.
amount ef xact detail, which neluded our defences and much wire. Every other firs and the and amongst these must be ensemed to be in possession of evens die na laba poremecated: the paucity of anti-seek a map, which was a litho In town, the Fareraft pony, both light and graphed reduction of our own Barbem, atud northern per heavy the lark any radar 20,000 map. tion the miami, wd wat equipment: the necessary dilu "They seemed to be in posseR- splet d to actall her darvete tien in order to economise man sien of a very full order of pworn the arms of the per- battle and knew the names of, view by Chinese personnel of 180st of the senior and inknown reliability in time of manding officers, The efficiency! war: the lack of regular trans- of the memy quat driven by disciplined dri- probably the printeat
el from the lapul.
Three Factors
Fame a att vital im pertson . . . . ... ,:, motions of £
de. yes. 1993
tanice, deel, trans, ele, on the inainknad, ta oleme retain Found th and y.tal tecessities from the malatal to the is Jami, t sipek
and ipping Ighter and lear the har- bour of the hands of junks and sampa
"It will be appreciated that, to tal.. - prevorable ani
beum.
"The aircraft here were no match for the enemy fighters. and I gave onders that they wore hd to be employed intess the opportunity occurred, other a first light or at dusk, for a torjun attack on any
en my capital ship or large eruines.
Desertions
"la any vase, all were put out! Lxpensive stem was impossible action in the first raid made 19.] 1 wars definitely known by the enemy, though preeau that war with Japen was in- fith, such as
Ma
I
dispersal. had
annt enemy air raids had
A
trans-
com-
'forcu WHE surprise
to me--my general impression at the time was that either the Japanese pilots had reached a surprisingly high standard of] traming or that German pitots were leading their Bights."
Major-General Maltby pays tribute to his forces "for the
allant part they played during!
Bghting
a period of intensive against overwhelming odds with
no rent, little sleep. and often hort of water and hot meals."
On Tuesday a report was received by the Royal Observatory from the Tsun Wan Police Station that what appeared to be snow was to be seen in the hills north of Tsun Wan. Two officials were sent to investi- gate. They found a ridge, about half a mile long and between 1,400 to 2.000 feet above sea level, to the south-west of Taimoshan, covered with about four inches of ice. This photo, taken by Mr. C. S. Ramage of the Royal Observatory, shows some of the "twigs in aspic" seen by the officials.
Consul Denies Chinese
Press Reports
Canton, Jan. 29. Chinese press reports and editorial comments stating that some property was removed from the British Consulate two days before the fire on Jan. 16 were denied by Ronald A. Hall, Bri- tish Consul-General, in an interview with As- sociated Press.
"We never expected the burn. | Hall. "The world is at peace ing of the Consulate," said and we are located in a friendly
country."
Kowloon
City
Again?
Hall suil that he lost all of his personal belongings and had to borrow a suit of clothes and a sweater from the Customs Commissioner,' British
tional.
but was
a
a.
He said that the damage to the Consulate was "fairly big" unable to give exact figures until architects have finished computing the costs.
Servants' Devotion
Mrs. S.N. Chau Robbed
Mrs. S. N. Chau, wife of the Hon. Mr. 9. N. Chau, was the victim of an au- dicious handbag thief about 4 pun, yesterday, while she was looking over some ladies' coats in "Paque- rette," Gloucester Building. The man calmly picked no the handbag which Mrs. Chau
counter left on the while she was examining some coats. and walked out of the shop.
CHINESE
COMMUNIST CHIEF HERE
and Consul J. K. Blackwell Agitation for the release
The Chinese staff saved Hall | of
frum possible injury by shteid- ing their whereabouts. They
their
mastery.
The secret
TRIBUTE TO CANADIAN
TROOPS FROM ITO
"The Canadian forces might have been better than the Japanese and I thought our soldiers should in some way emulate their example,' .Lieut-Gen. Ito Takeo told the No. 7 War Crimes Court yesterday, resuming his testi- mony under Prosecution cross-examination. It charged with the nileged with many houses, killing and ill-treatment of Allied that fighting in that area would POWs and surrendered person jenuse confusion both
troops and the inhabitants.
nel and sick members of the Al lled forces,
medical
personnel and civilian residents by Japan-
He feared
Exhausted
ese troops under hin, told that he first heard of the enemy when the Shoji Butal reported that Canulian brigadler (Brigadier arcu. Lowson) died at Wongnelchon fer in the Gap. Only then did he know that he was facing Canadian Army furces.
10 } s
He explained that the Shefi unit could not have entered that That unit was taking shel- Wongneichong Gap area until Dec. 21. Frum Dee. 22 it took the offensive despite the state et the troops who were "The Canadian officer must in-cxhausted and had suffered heavy deed have been a vallant man in injuries. Under those circum- sacrifleing himself in acti.n. It stances the Shelf could not have was an example for us," he de, entered the Town Area. If they clared. "In this way I encourag- had done so they might have had ed my subordinates."
to make'n detcur and it would The Canadians offered stub have been impossible for them born resistance for three days to reach the Wengnichang Gap against the overpowering strength area on Dec. 19. "I think they of the invaders and mist of them must have gone along the foot of died in battle, defendant whe the hill."
were take
was cominunder of the 30th. In- He was assigned to the most fantry Unit of the 38th Division vital part of the Island, where- which attacked Hong Kong, told the topography provided that the tribunal.
once his bicctives The first contact with the Brhla command would dominate tish troops was when they canse the island. "Once the hill pork Out of Stanley Peninsula, Thitions were occupied, the other was made known to him, deten low places would have no more dont snid by Divisional GHQ strategical value." when he was at "B"Point, nesv
Mt. Butler on Dec, 21.
Went Astray
There was no direct moans of communication with the left flank forces. The only contact mude was through Divisional GHQ. On Dec. 23, he first heard of General was then occtipy.
Io said that he did not know Tanaka, who anything about the Stunity bafing the Stanley Bay arch. le arcu, as he thought it was in- The defence will produc side the left flank forces' area, witnesses today.
two One of them is
adding that a reserve force was Lieut-Gen. Higuchi, former Vice- sent to that aren from Divisional Chief of Staff, 23rd South China CHQ: He also said that the Army.
Tanaka Unit went ostray In try.
ing to find a short cut.
He denied a Prosecution suc geslion of a concentration of the Dol, Shoji and Tanaka Butai, ex- plaining that it was the worst thing to mass alt forces of one point.
CTE WAY
"My Regret”
that such
Lent "His"
Warship To Smuggler
Nanking. Jan. 29.
#
$
must blame three factors: the vers were neves off the raud for patch states: "This battalion so that they may "suffer to-dent, the entrances to Shameen Demtcratic Revolutionary Group." forces." by the Japanese the Customs officers between
Chinese
Defendant sald
not he did know anything about POWs, The Grst report he had about prison- at "B" by telephone Point and he only heard about the approximate numbers taken. He said that all POWs were to bo atnt directly to Divisional
A Chinese naval captain who HKVDC Praised the two Kowloon City squat
tent his ship to a retired officer GHQ where special officers of friend for use in smuggling be- vital. Thes
the Intelligence Staff would deal! tween Hong Kong and Canton, WILS in
Ove and all played their part. ters. heen taken.
convicted of inciting re-
with them. He assumed that and the friend who borrowed a evitable semestar in the
sistance to The lack of
the police in the fully is the true reconnaisabet.
traditions of execation of the latter's duly,
GHQ was at North Point.
warship but was caught by had all my trees deployed in both landwards and seawards, the Services, he wrote.
arrival in Непр
naval patrol on its first ran, thur battle puitions in ample was naturally a serious hatuli
has been
"Po get out of their residence at the Kong of an important political started by the
were both executed by a mill- Of the Royal Ritles of Caruin [On Kowloon City Resident, As- height of the demonstration and leader of the Chinese Com- tiny, but it was hard to make similarly I know that the and the Winnipeg
fary firing squad today follow- Grenadiers, sociation,"
aught refuge in the cook's liv.munist Party was reported by
Ing approval of death sentences that definite statement on the tack of position to the iners. Major General Maltby reports: Representatives of the Asing quarters on the second the Wali Klu Man Po yesterday. Asked whether
he was very by a secret military court. inimation available, with the
The newspaper said that Lino concerned These tw battalions proved to ociation" have approached the floor. The rioters mounted the
Naval Headquarters said the over the welfare of result that thrivit authorities somewhat depressing effect to beileguntely
trained for! Special Commissioner (Foreign stairs in search of the Ceny i direct overseas activity firm belief in
Cheng-chih has arrived in the POWs, Ito said that he had
men were Captain Su Po-yun, Telt that they were not in a wards the end on the troops."
for Kwangtung and asked the cook and family of the Communist Party and to that their conduct would not be Kong after delivering supplies
his subordinates transport, who
commanding ndern war under the conditions | Affairs)
small navel position put into full force
visited Hong surrender Chinese personnel. Majar. existing in Hong Kong many Kwangs, with a petitica asking to all the numeral measures General Maltby wrote:
ef gallantry him to obtain the release of the The Chinese denied that they Andividual nets
make connections with sympath- in any way unlawful. "The first to the Pratas, off the South quited during the preby the gh the Royal Army Service were performed, and the losses two me.
were in the house, though Hall
time I learned of the acts of war Ching coast, and retired Com- precautionary period of the Corps perforined wonters in they incurred were heavy."
The petition asked for a reply and Blackwell were in
The report pointed out that Lino crimes was when I was accused mander Liang Hsien-pang. elvi fence plan.
the is the son of Madame Liao Ching-of them. It was more than my
Llang persuaded of the within three days otherwise the cook's room under the bed.
Su to aug- Of the 5th Enttallon Organising improvised "From the state of affairs, 1
kal, prominent member
of the regret
ment their incomes by using Thirteen days after the inci-newly
things wero pert, and the few regular dri- 7th Rajput Regiment, the dea-people will court imprisonment
organisedi Kuomintang emmitted
the naval. vessal to circumvent general doubt that Japan would days and
Hong Kong and Canton. nights on end, the fought well on the mainland and gether" with the two men,
are still sand-bagged and bar- declare war against the Allied'
He was formerly one of the During the fighting he did not A spokesman for the Special ricaded, with gendarmes
Exccuted with the pair was a general desertion of local en- their repulse of the enemy at
on supervisers of the powers; the wonkness of
Communist give any concrete orders concern third_man-Tang Chung-des- intelligence avstem: the bellef after putting their vehicles out is successful.,
Derated Chinese drivers (usunily tark en Devil's Peak was entire Commissioner advised the re- guard. No further trouble is East River Column's evacuation ing POWs in the form of daily ribed as a naval captain who
presentativen to await instruc- expleted, howevet.Ansociated from Kwangtung to North China Instructions that Japan was blutig and of action) was a very serkus
The question of Was assigned by the (Continue on Page 2)
dons from Nauking. would continue to bluff to the factir, both from the tactical
under UNRILA protection.
treatment was included in the Government to take over Jap- anese warships in Chinese The report added that Lino bas training and education of com- waters around Hong Kong. nud maintenance aspects.
beon
Singapore and themunders and "it was not for mo Naval officials gravity of the submit that although I, and my
sald Tang Philippines.
to give minute instructions while rented various vassola in. his forces, nay have been
cpemtions were in progress," harge to Chinese, merchants hostage to fortune. we were a
He asserted that there was no and pocketed the money. Naval detachment that deflected from
ncessity for his command to in.enquarters described fang as
In "bogus naval officer." more important objectives, suchj
terrogate POWs, DK his right
The trial of the three men us the Philippines, Singapore,]
flank forces had only two ad-was kept secret, with the death or perhaps even Australia, an
Jutants and no interpreters. All sentences not made public until enemy force that consisted of|
the necessary information could the men were shot-Associated two first-line divisions, one re-
procured from
Divialonal Press serve division, a corps artillery:
As a result of'a lafter sent by about eighty aircraft and a
Answering questions by the Mr. A.
J. Chfford (Crown considerable naval blockade
Counsel) to A. 8. P. Binstead of Court, Ito sald that he thought, of the Wong- force.
the Traffio Department the after the capture" "Strategically we
gambled
driver of Dollar taxi 4576, Wong nelchong area that. Hong Kong and lost, but.
Klog, was summonsed for dan- [operations would automatically It was a
worth-
Forecast-Moderata eusi winda. This gerous driving at Central Ma-[be stopped.
and milder. Mality while gamble,"
gistracy yesterday and· pleaded He gave orders to his troops Yesterday's Weather ---- "not sullly/*
nct to enter the Town Area,Maximum: 87.6 deg.. Fah. Mr. Clifford said that he saw
Bauchine: NII,' defendant shoot out of Albany which ho defined as any districts Minimum: 48.8 deg, Fahi Road at a terrific, rate, not
Rats falf N. Totalhee Jane 1m stopping to see if there
$1.0 mm 1.34 TL'alnut an average of 20.7 mm1:17 in. any other traffic on the road, corner, almost knocking (down But for the fact that witness a constable.
Reading A Jammed
10 m. his bresks Immedi-
4 p.m. Defendant said that he bad ately there would have been a been driving for 20 years and
30.44 30.39 inches. very serious collision.
so far had a clear record.
8. Mr. Olifford sounded his horn' Defendant was found guilty" Dew Poin bis, defendant; took no notice and fined $400 with the option | Wind. Direction... ENE
continued, fround thol of a month's hard labour. Wind For
last.
"The true
ON OTHER PAGES
Page Thret
Record Bail of A Million Dollars
El C'aut
Page Four
Third. Cold Wave Hits Amerien.
Page Five
Vietnam Ayack Warning
Page Six
Leading Article:-The
Despatches.
Page Scorn
Amnesty in Philippines.
· Page: Eights,
Crisis in Middle Band Page: Ten
Reparatlane Prom "Germany,
All The Sports
Jap Tactics
Commenting on Japanese tac- lics during the battle for Hong Kong, Major-General Maltby wrote:
Che division which made the Initial advance over the frontior) and thone troops that first land. ed on the island had reached, a
Press.
Kowloon City Statement
Nanking, Jan. 29.
to
Reckless
The first official comment on the British note on the Kowloon CityDriver issue to the Chinese Ambassador, Dr. Cheng Tien-hsi, of January 27 came today from Mr. Chao Ying-shih, Director of the Information De Fined $400
partment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. organ, Mr. Chao said;
According to an official
"While the Chinese public would welcome being given a further chance to know the Kowloon City case from the British official point of view, they will certainly bear in mind the fact that the Ministry of For eign Affairs and its representative in Hong Kong, before, January 5, strongly urged the Hong Kong authorities to refrain from taking forcible measures in an area where China has never waived her jurisdiction and that, before January 12, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its repre- sentative in Hong Kong made even stronger representations to the
effect. same
The failure of the Hong Kong authorities to give due considera- tion to these representations must be considered as of paramount signi- ficance in explaining the deplorable incident of January 12, when tear gas and rifle fire were resorted to.”—Reuter-AAP,
י
Was
bu
GHQ.
The Weather
- General situations-ariden of “high premure extends from West China accom the Eastern Bea to Japan.
are at mad, 1980.0 -1998.7 m.b.
Equala Rel. Humidity...
41 deg. F.
+