1950-11-02 — Page 7

'THE CHINA MAIL, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2,

1950.

FOURTH BOOK: 'THE HINGE OF FATE'

S

I

A

M

Bangkok

GULF

O F

SIAM

Mekong

IND

-CHINA

Saigon

Cape Cambodia

so u T H

Singora

Patani

CH I N A

Kota Bharu

репо

Penang

Port Wellesley

Ipoh

STRAIT

U M

s u

A

De

Fort

Swettenhamo

TR

A

CHAPTER 2:

A

AYA

Kuantan

Kuala Lumpur

F

MAL

200 Miles

Gemas

Endau

JOHORE

Mersing

$ E A

Anambas

Islands

Singapore

THE JAPANESE

for

40

the

not presz

forts had one year carller Schemes. are now being pre- difficult that I did

I pared mule so glorious a record,

defence northern my view, which I should have had put my falth in the enemy part of island. Number done if i had been resolved. being compelled to use artil- of troops required to hold island. We could none of un forcaco

inrge scale in effectively probably are required which was to occur lery on a very

collapse of the defence order to pulverise our strong greater than number

in little points at Singapore, and in the to

have

more than three weeks. A day almost prohibitive difficulties ordered 'Percival to fight out or two could at least be spared

the end long delays which would battle in Johore, but to for further thought,

defend Johore.* I

Impede such an artillery con- work out plans to prolong re- Sir Earle Page. the Aus-

gathering of sistance ammunition along Malayan possible should he lose Johore tralian representative, did not

centration

and

communications,

battle.

on Island as long ВА

0%

of course attend the Chiefs Staf Committee, nor did I I must warn you however invite him to the Defence Com- Various reasons that I doubt whether Island, mittee. By some urcans Or can be held for long once Jo other he was shown a copy of Now, suddenly, ail

is lost. this hore

[The] fortres my minute to the Chiefs ΟΙ vanished away and I saw be guns [are] sited for use against Staff. He Impediately tole fore me the hideous spectacle ships, and have mostly ammunt- graphed to his. Government,

that purpose only; and on Jan. 24. of the almost naked island and then for

Wo received can only fire senwards, the of the wearied, not exhaust-

following message from Part of garrison has already Mr Curtin which contained ed, troops retreating upon it. I Part du not write this in any way to been excuse myself, I ought to have many

many

sent into Johore, and severe reproach,

troops remaining are

to to doubtful value. I am sorry

known. My advisers ought to

to give you depressing ploture, but Severe reproach

linve

I ought to known and

do not want you to have

have been told, and I ought to falic picture of island for-

The reason I had

not asked about this matter, constructed

tress. Singapore defences were entirely to meet seaward attack. I still hope

nave asked.

amid the thousands of ques- tions

I put, was that the possi bility of Singapore having no Johore may be held till, noxt landward defences no more en- convoy arrives.

tered into my mind than that

of a battleship being launched without a bottom.

Ilon of the troops

All suffered

Mr Curlin to Prime Minister.

any dem

am

communicating the

BRAATHENS

The most pleasant route to Europe!

HONGKONG-OSLO

via AMSTERDAM

BOOKINGS ACCEPTED FOR ALL EUROPE

Jon. 23, 1042 Braathens S.A.F.E. Airtransport A/S

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the

of

After

of

following message as the re- sult of an emergency meeting of the War Cabinet summoned today to consider reports on the situation in Malays..... Page has reported that I am aware of the various reasons that have been given

pondered over Wavell's Defence Committee has been for this fallure: the preoccupa telegram of the 10th for a long considering the evacuation

in training time. So far I had thought Malaya and Singapore.

all the assurances and in building defence works only of animating and, as far

We have the been given the evacuation possible, in Northern Malaya; the shor- 48

compelling var desperate defence of the island. Singapore would be regarded of civilian labour; pre-war desp luge

MANA and cen- the fortress, and the city, and here and elsewhere as an financial limitations

betrayal. Singapore tralised War Office control; the this in any case was the at- excusable

titude which

should be

a central fortress In the fact that the Army's role was

wue foined unless

of the Empire and to protect the naval base.

As stated situated on the north shore of change of pelley was ordered. local defence.

But now I

to think :aure my

we understand the island

began and that it was a

that It was to be made im- therefore their duty to fight in of Burma and of the coin pore pregnable, and in any event it

to Singapore. that shore and not menta on the way

of holding along it. do not

could be doomed or divert was to be capable

time to out for a prolonged period unili these reasons valid Defences ed. There was still ample tin

turn their prows northward to the arrival of the main feet. should have been built.

I themefore wns Rangoon,

Even in an emergency diver- sion of

reinforcements should be to the Netherlands East for their meeting at 11.30 am Indies and not Burma. Anything be deeply resented on the 21st. Prime Minister to Gen. Im, however that my mind was not and might fatco the Netheriona

I confess freely else would made up. I leaned upon my ate peace.

East Indies to make a spar- Jan. 19, 1942, friends and counselors. W6 Let a plan be made at all suffered extremely at this On the faith of the proposed

best possible time.

front of

I

consider

My Immediate reaction was

These

pre-

to to repair the neglect so far ne pared the following minute

Chiefs of Staff.

2313 time allowed. I at once dictated the following minute:

gave it to Gen, Ismay in time

The

for C.O.S. Committee.

once

to do the

ONSLAUGHT

AND RETREAT IN MALAYA

on

1

Island, merely containing Wavell's doubts up the causeway.

Japanese advance down

the battle in Johore

forward.

is

This plan

Prime Minister to Gen, Ismail,

for C.O.S. Committee.

telegram,

fow of reinforcements, we have acted and carried out our part of the bargain. Wo ex- pect you not to frustrate the whole purpose by evacuation.

The trend of the situation in Malaya and the attack on Rabaul are giving rise to pubile

of grave un

casitics celing

at Allied impotence

An

to do anything to stem the Ja- panese advance, The Govern- ment, in realising its reapon- siblilly to prepare pubile for the possibility of resisting oggressor, also has a duty and obligation to explain why may not have been possibi to prevent the enemy reaching

our shores.

In duty bound

11

T is at least arguable objective in this theatre was in Johore or farther north, and while

whether it would not dissipated before the Japanese little or nothing

was done to going

should comprise: attack began. It might be a construct defences on north sido

Jan. 21, 1942. have been better to hundred thousand men; but it of island to prevent crossing (a) An attempt to use the In view of this very bad concentrate all our strength was an army no more..

Johore Straits, though arrange- fortress guns on the northern telegram from Gen. Wavell, we defending

tho ments have been made to blow front by firing reduced charges must Singapore

reconsider

whole and by running in

a certain position at a Defence Com- It is therefore in duty bound to exhaust at the possibilities Fortress cannon of heaviest quantity of H.E. If none exists, miltee meeting tonight, . .

of the situation, the more so nature have all-round traverse, the Malayan peninsula with

(b) By mining and obstruct- His message gives little hope since the Australlan peuple, light mobile forces. The de- It soon became clear that but their flat trajectory makes ing the landing-places where for prolonged defence.

for Bar It is having volunteered considerable force could evident that such defence vice overseas in large numbers, cision of the commanders Gen, Wavell had already doubts them unsuitable for counter any

ability to of our

maintain a battery work. Could certainly gather.

would be only at the cost of find it difficult

to understand on the spot, which I ap- prolonged defence of Singapore.

3 the reinforcements now on why guarantee to dominate

they with

must.

so long batteries siege

(e)

If Gen. Wavell proved, was to fight the I had counted upon the island enemy

By wiring and laying the way.

is for on improvement

in the in situation satis- booby - trops fortress battle for Singapore

'mangrove doubtful whether more than standing a alege them, Supply in

situation when irreparable da.. Have already au- swamps and other places, Lew wecka delay can be ob mage may have been done 10 Johore, but to delay the requiring heavy artillery to be factory,

an ihorised removal of certain Air tanded, transported, and moun-

the tulped,

question

arise their power to resist, the pres- field whether we should not at once Uge constructing enemy's approach thereto icd by the Japanese. Before I Force establishments and

of Empire, and the docks and batteries solidarity of the Allied cause. as much as possible. left Washington I still contem- stores to Sumatra and Java to works and strong points, with blow the

and plated a resistance of at least prevent congestion. Will cable field artillery and machine-gun and workshops to pieces

éross-Are.

concentrate

Curtin's everything on the

telegram was defence of Burma and keeping both serious and unusual. The open the Burma Road.

"inexcusable be- .expression

trayal" was not in accordance

with the enemy.

were

end

re- sure

not

will depend on

(d)

By

(e) By collecting and taking under our control every con celvable small boat that is

commanders I sent the following telegram message on the morning of the anywhere else within reach.

There had

Please lot

me know

pared, and what has been done

were no par-

Walt

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Or

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Wednesday

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Friday

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28 DAY RETURN EXCURSION HK$960

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General Aqeels: Butterfield & Swire. Pascapes, call 30331. Freight, zali 80200

CRIC

THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB

NOTICE TO MEMBERS TENTH RACE MEETING Saturday, 4th Novamber, 1950,

There are pight races, the First Bell will be rung at 1.30

with the truth or with meter Pan, and the First Race will be rue at 2.00 p.m.;

Very grievous

racts.

A frightful WOB approaching.

toss and gain stand?

time the destination

Field defences, be used, up to the limit where and hesitating to take

All that I had seen or read

picks and shovels are avaliable.

(1) Not only must the de pore

bo

On

до

Hardening

of

甜

To avoid congestion at the Club's Offices at Telephono House,

non-members are requested to: purchase their sweep tickets af the Club's Branch Offices at

5, D'Aguilar Street, Hong Kong

382, Nathan Road, Kowloon, MEMBERS' BADGES AND ENCLOSURE Members and

reminded that 'they and

tests are

their

The defence of the mainland two months. In order to make further when I receive detailed consisted of a continuous

about the landward de- plans. Much

hitherto I treat, with heavy rearguard ac- fences, which

had air situation. tions and stubborn props. The taken for granted, and the pre-

It was with feelings of pain- fighting reflects high credit on paration for standing a sless ful surprise that I read this found in the Johore Straits or the troops and

Could we Through Tickets (8 Races — 816) may be obtained at ine engaged. It drow in to itself,

It appears to me that this avoid It? How did the balance Compredore Office of the Treasuress, 1st Floor, Telephone House, nearly all the rein- Prime Minister (Washington) 19th. So there

(1) ANNO piccement es

By planting feld bat question should be squarely of they to Gen. Wavell. Jan. 16, 1942. He landward side of the naval carefully

fortifications covering teries at each end of the straits, faced now and put bluntly to this

At niso tickets for the Cash Sweep on the last race. manent

with Gen. masked and asrived. Every advantage

lay

Waveli

What

is the important your base and of the city! Moreover, searchlights, so

as to destroy value of Singapore

Ito the our cont forces still rested,

"bc- been minute pre-war study, of idea of what would happen in even more astounding, no mea any enemy boat that may seek enemy above the many

sures

In of had worth speaking

har- to enter the straits, the ground and conditions, Care- event of your being forced to

examining such trayal" withdraw into the island.

bours in the South-West Pacifle issues been taken by any of the.com-

with a realistic. ful large scale plans and secret

manders since the war began, Infiltration of agents, including

(g) By forming the nuclei of molitions are thoroughly carried Committee If all Doval

and milltary de- Moreover, the Australian War How many troops would be and more especially since the three or four mobile counter out? On the other hand, the the whole situation. Otherwise could not, measure even hidden reserves of bicycles needed to defend this area? for Japanese cyclists, had been what means are there of stop- elves in Indo-China

Japanese had catablished them attack reserve

columns upon loss of Burma

would be very made. Superior strength and ping landings as were made in struct deld defences. They had out of Johore can be formed.

to con- which the troops when driven griovous.. It would cut us on they would not have urged the indies MUST wear their badges prominently displayed throughoul.

completo neglect of Burma, the Meeting largo reserves, some of which Hongkong? What are defences not even mentioned

from the Chinese, whose troops which was proved by events the fact not needed, had been and obstructions

NO ONE WITHOUT A BADGE WILL BE ADMITTED TO most success to be the only place we still landward on

(b) The entire male popula. have been, the assembled. All the Japanese side? Are you sure you can that they did not exist. diviäions were adept in jungle dominate with fortress cannon

tion should be employed upon ful of those yet engaged against had the means to save.

THE MEMBERS' ENCLOSURE. constructing defence works. The the Japanese.

Badges admitting ladies not in possession of Brooches-er- warfare,

any attempt to plant slego bat-

most rigorous compulsion is to

Season tickets and gentlemen, non-members of the Club to the We may, by muddling things teries? Is everything being

Members Enclosure-and Club Rooms at $10.—including tax, for pre-

| Indles and gentleman are obtainable through the Becrotary on the ugly decision, lose both Singo-

It is not true to, say that Mr] written or personal introduction of a member, such member to be has always seemed to me that

and the Burma Road. Curtin's message decided Obviously

the responsible for all visitors introduced by him, and for paymens the the vital need to to prolong the of war had led me to the con- fence of Singapore Island

decision do issue. If we had all been of all chits etc. The panese mastery of the defence of the Island to last modern fire-power a few weeks but the whole faland must

viction that having regard to maintained very means, Pends upon how long the de agreed цроп the policy we Badges admitting to Members Enclosure will NOT be on arising from our bitter possible minute, but of course will suffice to create strong fought for until

tence of Singapore faland can should, bo

us I had suggested; sale at the RACE COURSE needs elsewhere, ond for which I hope it, will not come to this field defences, and also to limit unit and every single strong net worth losing all our rein- conscious however of a harden- The Treasurers' Compradore Omeo and the Secretary's Onice are

every single be maintained. If it is on certainly

have put the cass The Branch Offices and, the Trvakurárs, Compradoro Office it is certainly "bluntly" to, Wavell. I

Was will close at 11.00 am, and the Becretary's Offes at '11.45 am. no way responsible, Wes an-

and canalise the Everyone here is very pleased

enemy's front point. has been separately other deadly fact. In the result with the telegrame you have of attack by minefields and

forcements and aircraft. and destroyed,"

· of... · opinion y against - the the main dgtling strength of sent, which give us all the feel other obstructions,

Moreover, one must consider abandonment of this rettowed situated af Est Floor, Telephone Hound Moreover,

renowned limited number or turns will be obtainable' at the Club fall of Singapore, kay point in bun

had never entered into my how buoyantly

(3) Finally, the city of Sin that an army as we had ing

Tha tho Far assigned to the defence of spaciously, you are grappling head that no circle of detached gapore must be converted in accompanied as it will be Singapore

especially pont after the hit your tremendour task. All forts of a permanent character a ditadel and defended to the by the fall of Corregidor, will affect that would be produced (opped they are ordered in advance from the No. 1 Boy death. No surrender enn ba be 1 tremendous shock to In the United reforprcamente son

NO CHILDREN WILL BE ADMITTED TO THE CLUB'N acem to have protected the rear of the

India, which only the 'arrival 245

Clates, of "Bri- Japaness

the Ameri. FREMISES DURING THE MEETING.RAISE declarazz

of war, the same confidence in you as toNGAS, I cannot understand contemplated. were used up in gallant fight.

how it was I did not know this

of powerful "forčes

Cana tion so stubbornly cessful action on the Burma at Corregkor, ing on the peninsula, and where your British friends..

none of

was terrible fo Wavell's reply to this mea- spot and none of my profes

front can these had crossed the causeway

(sustain." (Pray all this be considered this what a purely

imagine. There is no doubi feayhat should have been, their age did not reach me til after sional advisors at home seem to

military deel their y return to London,

have realised this awful need. When I awoke on the mom-

morning mipspune battleground

slon should have been, punch, was gone.

At any Prato, none of, them

· painted it out to me-not ever ing of the Bist the following

my telegrams most pessimistice telegram fron.",

A pro The Chiefs of ad reaches

definite conclusion and bos

wa' mat in the evening M “Defence Commiffen“

Hovitation: fo: Domanít

Mastery of air

the local commanders were in

14

about the useless mouthr7 It

and

fortress.

But

famous

the officers on the

ters they rajoined the local Painful surprise thore who saw

and the EnREDEN UT

Stalla which Woljod?gugu

Pessimistic

(based upon the falso nomumption 'Gen. Minamiza Bingapiri that a regular sloge, would be the top of my

appels though not our den, Wavett to Prime Monte-required.

Jan: 10 '1942,

I had read of Flavia in 1877, Gen Wavell to Prime defence at where before the spa y of man Fat Bingas | chine-guns, détences i had been di "des { impreýleed by the Turks in the l

There remained the cer

brigaden, ufɛthe 19th

ivision,Bewly. Innded

ships da #trings:ena jaladd

the

No conclusion Bz general agreement or

The Kidzeekinitálskspona

ali

*-' acquiescence, however,

pforts were made to reinforce o/Binenport, and to Sadition

10th Divisionf @bert-of-which had already land- www.ed, want forward on its WAFA

87810),

PUBLIC ENCLOSURE -A she? The price of admission to the Publia Enclosure Is BLOW inetuding tax for all persons incliding Jallas, rand la. payable as the Cite.

WILL NOT: 10 TREETREMINCTS OF THM, THE RACK PAKETING, ILEX BE OBTAINABLE IN

INCLOSURE,

KERS, TIC TAC.} » TO OPERATE WITHIN JOBKEY: CLUB LOUR

ANT IN THE

"private" Don Bölders onky

(diekthat thkin With Maitimitation, anga_v0 dern' of, kuch”: parren aku kontre · except ZUT PRMINE retain in their employeEH.

ADER.