1948-02-27 — Page 6

THE OHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1948,

FALL OF MALAYA

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DELAY

PERCIVAL DESPATCH

ANALYSED

By Harold Guard

London, Feb. 26.

dropped on the

The curtain surrender acene in the tragedy of Singapore on February 15, 1942 was raised today by Lelut. Gen Arthur

Ernert Percival with the publication_of_his_of- flelal dispatches as an epilogue intended to vindicate the traduc- ed defenders of Malaya.

of

The dispatches were first sub- mitted In April 1846,. They were referred to the governments Australia and India, checked and re-checked by various Ministries concerned and the delay their publication caused contro- versy

Parliament and the British press reminiscent of the Gallipoll after the

on

Official dispatches compiled by Lieut Gen A. E. Percival are intended 'as a challenge to the British War Cabinet's appraisal of the Malaya Campaign, which terminated

Singapore defence were "all pointing the wrong way."

As far back as Mar 1030, Per- clval discloses, Major Gen, W, G. 3. Dobbls, who was G.O.C. Malaya at the time, reported to with the surrender_of_Sing-the-War-Omce: "It-is-an-attack-

pure on Feb. 19, 1942, con- .demning the Campaign

"one of the most spectacular disasters to before British arme."

Harold Guard, who has first-hand knowniedge of the Far Eastern War and who reported the Malaya Com- paign from the first Japanese landing on December 8, 1941 until the fall of Singapore, herewith review: the dis- patcher in the light of his it own experiences during the the campaign.

from the northward that I regard as the greatest potential danger ......The jungle is not in most places impassable to Infantry.”

The tactical appreciation fa 1941 was based on this concep- tion and plans were mada to cecupy South Thalland to clr. cumvent any enemy mova in that direction. When hostilities commenced, however, operation of this carefully laid plan was repeatedly postponed, largely for political reasons, until it becane | toɑ late to make it effective.

The dispatches intimate that had this "Operation Matador" been carried out it might well

Under a programme doubtless dignified with the description Long Term Planning the scheme for constructing a cross-harbour tunnel is apparently to be post-inquest puned for at least twelve years. First World War. Which appears to mean that the 'The Malaya Campaign, buck is being passed to the heirs would appear, has become and successors of the present in-Gallipoll of the Second World cumbents in office, and

that a War with Winston nice large pigeonhule has been once more named as the nigger lealousles which must have con have altered the course of the

selected for safe stowage

in the woodpile,

True Facts

Malaya Campaign.

Failure To Prepare

"Our shortage in light naval

the

CARNIVAL

By Dick Turner

COPE, 1947 BT NEA GRAVICE, DIC, V, M TER U. 3. PAT DEP

12-17

"I understand today is your birthday, Perkins, and as a little token of esteem, I'm returning your lawnmower!""

BARCLAY ON BRIDGE

By SHEPARD BARCLAY

"THE AUTHORITY ON AUTHORITIES" WHAT'S THE BIG RUSH?

worse than he was, but East was

in too much of a hurry to act the contract at all.

and Churchili chino

the Inter-service

tributed to the Anal chaos in About this. there is, of course,

Malaya.

The main cause of the British Another beclion is devoted to a nothing which could be regarded "Since my return to England very detailed

defeat was the land forces marrative of the Thaving to bear "practically the as untypical. It is a long job from Japanese captivity it has land operations during the 70 and a heavy job and nobody par been my constant endeavour to days hostilities, but its

whole weight of the Japanese precise, ticularly wants the handling of ensure that, in fairness to those military parlance, typical of the

attack with litle air for naval it. Whether that is altogether facts of the story should be told. the utter weariness and bewil

who fought in Malaya, the true scholarly soldier, does not convey with cold, factual Ogures which, support," the disputches cidim satisfactory, except maybe to the gave up some of my leave to derment of the defenders, gripped the inck of readiness

Percival declares, demonstrate operating terry companies, is quite work on my dispatch which was and battered, struggling against Empire for war."

of our another matter. Certainly it will finished and handed in to the War powerful enemy holding complete not assure Mr. Citizen, who office in April 1948. Only with mastery in the air and_on the paid serious attention to the its publication will the clouds of

seas around Malaya. The in- press interview given by His Ex-my mystery, which have for 80erest and value of this narrative cellency Sir Alexander Granthan long shrouded the Malaya Cam- is also largely lost through the

It is all very well and good to

The club K and A were scored in Nanking last year, that there palgn, be dispersed," Gen. Parc War Office declining to reproduce coastal craft und modern Bir assure

the defeat of the oppo- and the 4 lod, which East ruffed is any real intention by Govern-val told me in December 1947. three sketch maps which General craft, lack of tanks and lack of mont's doubled contract by cash- with the spade Q so he could im-

The preparation of the ment to proceed with this pro-patch, he said, has been influenc

die Percival had submitted.

training of most of our troopsing the trick that does it. Risk mediately cash the setting trick jeet vever desirable, and how-ed by the fact that since the sur-the mark in General Percival's the luck of experience of modern contract is obviously expensive limited his side to taking only It does, in fact, fail short of especially reinforcements- ing possible failure to beat the with the hoart A. Thereby ho ever much it might justifiaba render

of Singapore "a great aim to effectively challenge the war of some of our senior com- But when there is no question one more trick, with the spade be regarded as warranting ener-deal of iterature has appeared on British War Cabinet's appraisal manders and the weakness of whatever about the certainty of K, ao that the set was of only getic pursuit.

the subject."

it, the able suggesting that a superior British our intelligence can be attributed boating That the scheine

"Statements have

defender two tricks, been

should ordinarily go mado is practical

Icice surrendered to an inferior to fallure to prepare for war at

all-out in

14 East's hasty play of the heart at sound economic propusi-|

and opinions expressed by

Japanese force.

the proper time," he records in his effort to beat it as badly as A was worth plenty to South, as his dispatch. tion has been demonstrated by an writers, anany of whom had but

possible. If postponing your own set up all of the hearts in dum- a cursory knowledge of Malayan offer by certain

considering the interests in the conditions or of

But, throughout this ponderous side's trick taking promises to my

marked factors which

document, the Malaya come endangering the assurance of sut. mond A as a remit

increase the punishment without finesse, while leaving the Colony to float a company and influenced decisions....In fair- "The retrent from Mons

der who led a losing elde in the undertake the construction in re- ress to the officers and men who the retreat to Dunkirk have been greatest encounter of a brillant ting it, there is no point to ba

alecided 19 ruff the third Having tricks with le spade Q, Eart could to collect fought in Malaya I ask that hailed as eples. In the former military carcer, makes no harsh tag in a hurry,

have made much better use of his chance to lead. If, he had returned a diamond to the A, and decided to hold his heart A until the secund ound, South never could have used he heart sult for diamond diseards. unt out the play from there on, and 3 ou will see how that would have ompleated things for the declarer, utting him down at least one more han he acally beaten.

turn for a concession

the tolls for"

a period of years. That it is needed hardly calls for supporting evidence.

That there afe difficulties-- about siting about guarantees that the materials will be avail- able when required-must be re- ciągnised. The main obstacle,

No Aid

and

those statements, many of them

this

our Army was able, with the aid or bitter recriminations

he claims in his dispatch.

Ponderous

This ponderous document

Percival

more

and il

S. À 3

-

H. K J 10 4 2 D. A

official statements made in of a powerful ally, to turn the can reasonably be observed that country, may now be corrected," inbles on the enemy; in the latter the lengthy, detailed document is į

our Army was evacuated by the notable chiefly for is omissions. 9. Ka

The General hus used Navy with the loss of all heavy gloves in his treatment of refer-D. K

velvet H. Q D S of equipment. Each of these 100,000 words leaves no doubt treats lasted approximately three ences to the breakdown of civi- CARJ4

AL contributory that General

in knew weeks. The retreat Malayalian labour us

delcat. Couso to

The eleventh its Mulnya and

for problems. The lasted ten weeks in however, appears to be that the first section deals with the period trying conditions. There was no nour apathy of some sections of tunnel scheme in inevitably link prior to the outbreak of hostili- strong ally to help sind no Navy the Indian forces, who were un- ed in the Government's mind ties and all who have analyzed to evacuate the

doubtedly influenced by Japanese subject only propaganda is with the resumption by the civil the dispatch agree that his appre-been holled as a disaster bul per- authorities of the site of the cintion of the situation and his haps the judgment · of

history

lightly touched and there is no nerable). Royal Naval Dockyard, regard-plan of action were beyond cri- will be that all the effort and effort to elucidate the situation North

Australians' northwest ing which na date can be set, and ticism. But he treats his subject money expended on the defence about which there appears to be gently, laying no great emphasis of Malaya and the sacrifice and sector of Singapore Island where

Japanese en the difficulties occasioned by subsequent suffering of those, who little optimism in official quar-

the maladjustment of go-fought in the Malaya Campaign landing. vernmental administrative

were not in vain," is as far as The General goes in his effort to vindicate the Malaya defenders.

ters.

-For-the-tunnel-advocates this has little meaning. On the con- trary, it can reasonably be urged that the depth of pessimism should provide the degree of drive and initiative in search for an alternative routing of the turn-i which would leave the Naval Yard out of consideration.

the

ma

100 Years Ago

force. It

has

On the question of relative

the

the

C. 10 8 & 5 2

S. Q 7 2 N

H. A 7 5 WED. 10 7 6

S

C

S. J 10 6 5

5

•

dia-

Tomorrow's Próbien-

S. K 75 H. A 10 3 2

D. 1 2

C. AQS

FL. G 3

D. Q J O C. 7 3

(Dealer: North, East-West vul

East

South

West

Рия

1

1 NT

5. 3 2

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2 D

2 S

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effected their

a NT DLL

4 S

Confusion-

H: Q 7 6 54 PANS

D. J & 7 6 Pretty bad bidding, especially C. 97 by South, a bidding fool." and by his partner, who in spite of knowing South's reputation should

2 NT

N

· Pass

S. J 9 8 H. KI &

WED. K ío

8 C. J.10 8 2

_S..A-Q-10-6

II. 9

D. A Q9 54 C. K 63

(Dealer: North, East-West vulner-

General Percival limits his ob- [ have considered his vulnerable strengths the dispatch only half-servations to: "There was much opponents over their depth, which heartedly challenges the

and War confusion

disorganization they were. They didn't have a able).

chance to make the No Trump becoming Cabinet's appraisal as voiced by......Groups of men

If South gets into 6-8pades, East detached and lost in the Mr Winston Churchill

close game. In the 4-Spades, South doubles and West leads the heart Q, should have been punished much how should South play for It?

men. mut

General's Shoot From Hip Speech

. Mr Churchill tù on record as country. Some made their way having told a secret; session of back to Singapore Town. The Parliament; "There WCTC

ac-action of these

bo There is, in fact, small excuse

cording to Wor

to Office Ogures, judged in relation existing fur pustponement. The project

about 100,000 men gathered on conditions. They were not long is one which eventually will pay

the Island of Singapore by the service soldiers and discipline for itself: the factor of cost is)

morning of February 3. On the wa not deep-rooted. They had hardly material.' The prelimia-

night of February 8 about 5,000 volunteered for service and sent ry work will take up time not

Japanese made a lodgement on to Malaya to defend the Naval The Clipper Schooner "Nymph," the northwest corner of the Island Base. The Naval Base was to be calculated in anything less Captain Wilson, arrived from Woo- and were gradually reinforced longer of any LUSC but their than years, and the actual con-sung yesterday morning. kaving from other points until perhaps homeland, Australia, was being. He will retire when Britain gives up her mandate struction would probably take made ar unprecedentedly quick 30,000 men had been landed." threatened......This is the true.

(From the file of the "Chine Mail)

General Percival's

comes next to that of the "Nymph" claims that the Japanese employ its merits." was the "Lapwlog's" of 17 days).

.300,-

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Traffic Department

Bath February, 1948,

•

now

the

An Estimate

no

Jerusalem, Feb. 26. on May 15, General Sir Alan Cunningham, High Commissioner for Palestine, announced in Jerusalem today. General

Cunningham

told

General Cunningham, in what the

from

dispatch plature and should be judged on

Scrutiny

the ed a minimum of 180,000 meż

dispatch She left this on the night of the and 300 tanks in 11th instant, and arrived st

Woo

Malaya prompts the inescapable conclu-

total sion that the poor local intelli-British residents in Jerusalem he called a "shoot Campaign and that "tho sung on the 15th, making the pa

paraga

tre that what had been achieved by hip" speech to the British re up in four days and a few hours, number of officers and men on the gence and communications

in Palestine She performed the whole vayage British. 'side, was a little over quently prevented the Malaya Britain

would faldents of Jerusalem, referred 15 days, remaining the necessary 125,000 though the strength in Command from being kept fully stand and grow to the lasting to the morass of international In the short period which has time at Woosung for the transaction Malaya at any one time was con-informed of various develop benefit of the country.

immorality, #olf-interest and of business.

siderably less than this,”

ments. More than once General

He declared that but for prejudice" surrounding Britain, elapsed since the devaluation of

Our American friends have mych

Percival even asserts he did not "outside interference," Britain and added it was time to take the franc, prices in France have reason to be proud of the fact that continued to rise. The hope with Clipper American skips are

récolve corders sald to have been could have brought the Paloe-stock as Britons. Issued by the Supreme Comman time problem to a happy end. "On the credit alde, there 18 which devaluation in so conten-commanding freight to England 50-

dor Southwest Paèlfe, General The High Commissioner said much more than on the debit tious a form

per cent above those which are was effected was given (with one exception, we beteland General Percival said; "I

Of the landing on Singapore Sir Archibald Waveli. There that he believed sincerely that aldo", he anld. He that the internal

concluded anth the Palestine problem could his speech by paying a tribute price-level leve) to English veszeľu. In would remain stable while smaller craft of Clipper vessels and

the estimate that, there were at the scarcely any mention of France would get more for her in Ocean-going steamers, the Trans. Cessation of hostilities a mini-columu activity, and only scant) have been solved by the British to the Joyalty; and help be, had mum of 100,000 Japanese or reference to the disruption administration in the Holy received from the administra Atlantic builders have not, yet Singapore Island or In South many aspects of the civil ad Land.

"We had behind us 25 years High Commissioner of Pales tion during his two years. S Unluppily, attempts to get the they have gone ahead of us in the actually crossed to the Island and account of the last dans of soild achievement in Falestine and told the British men

reached us; we must admis, however, Malaya. How many of these had ministration and the descriptive best of both worlds are seldom larger class of merchantmen,

"Thore is in Buccessful and the. treatment of John Bull is naturally low; but how many were on the mainland Singapore is a sample of master-tine", he said:"

ly understatement.

this country a structure of ex your duty, to keep, our memory, and women present: "It is symptoms is no substitute for now that

he has taken off bis is not known nor is it very

tremely sound administration, allve-Reuter. eradication of the

shoulders the incubus of the Naviga- material, but there is evidence to causes of the tion Laws, and that he finds, he has show that at least 23,000 crossed

but the millstone around, our disease. It is true that inflation to compete with the energetie and on the first day of the attack

necks has always been security, in France did not start with de-go-ahead men of the West, and es..... Iba total of British forces

What soldiers, what police,... valuation, but it has continued pecially when he sees, the profits in the Singapore Fortress

have would

shown the which

he has looked

throughout, even in commodities which, being peculiarly his own taken from him at the same time

Was in the lack the brutal phraseology need tolerance and patience British home produced, devaluation be will not fail to arouse himself, nelatibourhood of $5,000... eduto, 'omphasize” the stark soldiers and police have shown might not have affected.

and whenever he does so he is found but probably only about 70,000 tragedy of, Singapore and the in the past two years?” ``Sir Naturally alarmed by the rise hard to beat..

exports..

+

**

of those ~, equipped. S

Recond

in prices which, if unchecked, To Let The Bungalow, would sabotage their courageous cast from the Union Chapel, now in attempts to induce national re- the pccupation of Captain Fisher, covery, the French Government RA.. have produced a Bill to deal with another symptom,

EXCA Tho

Too Much A Gentleman

dispatches,

FALKENHAUSEN IN BELGIUM

Brussels

were armed and, final scene with the Japanese Alan asked,

conqueror, General Tomoyuki Sir Alan said it had beon General "Alexande "In official statements made in Yamashita, ratling his Sumaral stated in the past that trouble! kenhausen, this country; and, published in the sword and rasping his demand between the Arab and the Military Go! World press figures very differ for unconditional surrender of Jews had been doo to the Briandorthern ent from these have been given, somo 80,000 British soldiers to tish wanting to stay in the brought in fairness to the officers and which the tall, boby British country. That has now.) bean Nuretybery They propose to fix prices and from being pre-emibent. If the eclectr General Percival Peraval claimed, ampla The problem has now come

when national discipline is far men who fought in Malays I ask General Bually whispered: "Yes" utterly confounded a he dociar- son today.

that these statements may now The dispatches are, ar General edge criminal apply extremely severe penalties new measure catches food specu- kuisima gond

The

Map of straightforward account” and a out for what it 1-1 bltzer

one conflict between Araba and

Jew in which we have been His own trying to keep them apart and take solve the problem.!!-

Reuter

plac

to those who charge more. The lators, as it may, that is "all to The dispatches explode the fale valuable account, difficulty, as we all know, is to the good; but it is to be feared lacy that the British Command commentator! enforce Draconian, legislation of that the real trouble in Frence, la did not "anticipate an enemy at- val is too much of -this "kind;"particularly urva ¿time vicarcity, not speculations To Re dank from the North and that"==Unata