1948-01-30 — Page 1

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HONG KONG, FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1948.

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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

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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.

+