1948-02-24 — Page 1

Personal Stapler

for Every one

BOSTITCH

SOLE AGENTS NAN KANG CO. UNIONBIGHA,

VOL. III NO. 44

The

hongkong Telegraph.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1948.

Why Allies Failed To Stop Japanese Advance

MALAYA'S

PARLIAMENT

MEETS

Two Women Members

Included

Singapore,

Feb. 23-Mn-

laya's first central "Parlia ment," set up under the new 23-day old Federal Constitu- | tion, and including two wo-

first men, met for the

time! this morning at Kunin Lum- pur, 200 miles northwest of Singapore.

The new constitulles repineed the previous system of four Texterated

states, five non-federated states anĪ two separate British settlements of Penang and Malacca.

The new

76-member Federal

Council represents the nine states and the two settements,

The British

Sir Edward

Malay

High Commissioner. Gent, who nominate

most of the 61 non-official members

of the Council, prosided at today's: inerting, which

with

was occupied the swearing in of the Councillors and the appointment of committees.

Lori Listowel. Minister of State fur Colonial present.

Affairs,

was

ILLUMINATING DESPATCH

BY GENERAL WAVELL

Poor Singapore Preparations

London, Feb. 23.—Inadequate air forces, lack of air cover for a severely reduced naval striking force, and the failure of land rein- forcements to arrive until it was too late to save the situation wore the chief causes of the Allied failure to check the Japanese advance in the South-West Pacific.

The acute difficulties under which the British, Dutch and Australian Joint Command operated in January and February, 1942, were disclosed tonight in the despatch of General Sir Archibald Wavell, the Supreme Allied Commander in the South-West Pacific, now Field Marshal Lord Wavell.

Summing up the situation which drove the Allies back through The Nether- lands East Indies and Malaya, General Wavell declared: "Our enemies moved too quickly on a simple effective plan and never gave us time to collect the forces neces- sary to remedy our initial weakness and to make headway against them. the vital factor on both sides.

Air was Without air superiority, our naval forces, even had they been stronger, could have accomplished little as the danger of operating war- ships within range of shore-based aircraft without fighter cover was shown on several occasions during the short campaign.

"The

Malayans, with 31 seats, hold the majority

ffect the

nt enemy air non-offeinleriority on land operations members. The Chinese, who earlier | Leen

has threatened to boycott the Connel damage done

exaggerated, the because of their alleged inadequate caused were comparatively.

material ane! the casualties representation, were given 16 seats. but the moral effect was great." --Reuter.

small, Giving the Japanese credit for the elelent planning of the use of their air forces. General Wavell declared.

nevertheless

belleved the

MOSLEY AND

MUSSOLINI

ht

Janaorse air arm was not a really formidable force once it could be net on anything like equal terms. Its methods were stereotyped.

and

aero-

He declared that all would have bren well if all the aircraft promised the ADA Cominand had arrived London, Feb. 23. The Minister of on time State (Mr Hector McNell) told the dromes to receive them could have

well-pratteted House of Commons tonight that the hern British Government had documents

established with sufficient cuptured from Axis files, Inferring organisation to service them: that Sir Oswald Masley was

"Bul in the ABDA Command, we closest touch" with Mussolini and sufficient

"never had the tune to assemble a the italian Fascist movement,

force he indicated that Mosley had ceived financial

support from -italians

Ot

to

and favourable conditions for them

the

operate."

Replying to a question, Air McNeil

investigation

Gif

the

aaf British

yet been completed,

Mosley link with Mussolini had not

Mr Emrys Hughes (Labour) asked whether there was any reference to Anancial assistance Mosley's -parly.

*

create

to

The Warell despatch covered the period January 15 to February 25,

1942, the period of the existence of

VISCOUNT WAVELL

General Wavell as contributing to Another factor emphasised by

.

have been argued It would Inve been better to concentrate on bolding Crete and the gains in Libyn.

In the South-West Pacific, he

sald,

on

It might have been considered ure prudent to let The Netherlands East Indies go and concentrate making Burman and Australia secure.

"Our attempt to hold The Nether lands East Indies has

cost us Burmi and has placed India and Ceylon in danger." he declared, but that, in both instances (Greece and

Enst

we took the only

decision, I have no He dvik: The principle of engaging the enemy is closely and as far forward as possible mist be maitained at all costs and will, in the vt, bring victory."

+21

Before he assumed command January 15, General Waveit cabled to the Chiefs of Staff in London that seemed an attack on envy ship- ping by air and submarine an op -enemy-nir-buses—vy air-shond-re- a primary abjective and Bat to eure a line of naval and air bases Port

Darwin-Timor-Java-Soulbein Sumatra-Singapore would probably

General Wavell flew to Singapore.

Jews' New Campaign Of Terror

Feb.

Jerusalem.

23,-Four British vehicles were blown up by Jewish road mines in Jeru- salem today in what was con- sidered the beginning of a new terrorist campaign against the British military and police.

The Jewish Agency demands that all British forces withdraw from the Jewish quarter of the city and the mining of the streets against 'British vehicles was regarded as a 'challenge to Britain's authority,

Subsequent terrorist threats to kil British soldiers and police fatind inside the area led competent observers lo

predlet a showdown shortly between the two forces.

The British security forces, under instructions not to shool until shot at are fast losing patience.

DIGGING OUT BODIES After a night of tension, digging was still going on inday in the rains af Ben Yehuda Street. Jerusalem's main Jewish shopping centre, blast-

ed by yesterday's dawn explosion which shattered hotels, shops and

blocks of flats.

Six more fiend were dug out of the rubble today and Jewish reports

reported a total dụnth roll of over 50.

Official police figures had earlier Put the casualties at 33.

Although rescue squads were still standing by today, it was doubtful whether anyone was left alive,

A 51-year-old Scot of Perth was stated to be missing, feared dead, in the explosion.

Bad Weather

Stops Search

Cherbourg. Feb. 24. - Bad wrailer hampered the search today for vietns of the giant French seaplane which crashed

Channel on

Saturday,

In

Bing 19 perkans,

Small boats

put out.

planes.

were unable to High whats grounded Two

bodies And wreckage have been found.

some

The Du passenger plane was on a test Night, It crashed ma mowstorm near a 1944 invaston beach-Associated Press.

(The picture above. repro- duced by

or courtesy

Shell Aviation News, shown the type of seaplane "which" erashed in the Channel, with 115 victims).

Britain To

Concentrate

On Bombers

10

Dino At the

For

P.G.

Reservations

Tel: 27880

Price 20 Cents

Protests Greet 3-Power Parleys

London, Feb. 23--Three protests from Slav countries. and the third rejection of а protest from Russia marked the opening in London today of a conference between Bri- tain, and the United States on Germany's economic future.

The main decision of the conference was to invite the Benelux countries- Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg-to Joln in discussing the items of the agends that are of direct Interest to them.

The third rejection of Russia's recent note objecting that the con- ference violates the agreements with her came from Britain, France and the United States had already re- Jected this.

In a note handed to the Soviet Ambassador In London tonight, the British Government said it "cannot accept the validity of the Soviet Government's contention that the convocation

of the conference in London is a violation of the agree ment regarding the control machinery in Germany or of the Potsdam Agreement."

the

PROTEST SURPRISES Expressing

that surprise Soviet Government "should have seen fit to protest against this at- tempt by the other occupying powers to solve the urgent problems facing them In the areas of Germany for which responsibility was assigned to them by reason of the occupation of Germany," the note added: "The British Government are determined lo. take all

practicable

10. steps alleviate conditions in order that the penceful recovery of Germany and Europe may not be prejudiced.

The rote referred to "the oppost-

London, Feb. 23-Britain is giving special attention to the tion which the Soviet Government training of her bomber force, have continually shown to the work- realising that the "existence of tng out of a genuine economic unity" an efficient striking force is her posed a "heavy burden" on Russia's. for Germany which, it said, had im- most effective safeguard against allies. aggression," the Air Minister. Air Arthur Henderson. said in the House of Commons today.

timates for, the next financial year, In a memorandum of the air es- he said something like a complete reconstruction of the Air Force was being carried out at a time of rapid technical development.

ክቲ

Council almed

at

short

Britain and to the United States to- Czechoslovakia, Foland and Yugo- slavia, in notes delivered both to

complete

the

dis-

day, protested that the conference was an attempt to settle the Ger- man question in a manner contrary European nations." to the most vital interests of the

Germany into a hot bed of chaos. "This attempt would transform tindreds of Jewish civil guards The at

giving rise to new aggression and and men of the Haganah, the Jewish enabling a substantial weight of air menacing the peaceful development defence force, farmed human chains power to be developed at

of Europe," they said. up to enter the defence of Burma, pines, but this was found impossible resources which were lika'y to te

to clear the fallen masonry and notice in any area where it might implementation" of the Potsdam

They demanded "the the ABDA Command which was set Douglas MacArthur In the Philips represent the limit porrible with le

twisted girders in their search for

needed. possible survivors.

"Great importance is attached to Foreign Ministers "which must con-

Agreement on Malaya, The Netherlands East Indies except for small quantities of arms,vaiable.

the Council of at the Philippine Islands.

Increasing the mobility of the force sult with the governments of ARAB'S ADMISSION The despatch reveals that Le

and reducing its dependence on other Allled countries widespread and elaborate base or-cussing questions of immediate In- Wavell had, from the start, argued the general inability to check the arriving on January 7. He said he

when Abdul Kader Husseini, the veteran ganisation," Mr Henderson said. that Burma shuuld be placed under Japanese was the method by which had realised from the first what a

Arab guerilla lender, tonight claimed Mr Henderson said the estimates

terest" to them. Mr McNeil: have made it plain in the ABDA Command.

control from India and not included reinforcements of men were arriving race against the was involved it

responsibility

for yesterday's Ben for the next financial year at £173,-night refused to disclose the precise

Omcial quarters we are talking about inferences, but!

in London to- Yehuda Street explosion, which, he 000,000 were £41,000,000 In the final stages of the operations, I should not like to pretend

Periodically, in his account of this

the line I had indicated to the

less than terms of the conference subject of niney did but feature in tions the efforts to send reinforce matter of extreme

the phase of Allied activities, be men arrival

In the final

a reprisal for the past the 1947-1948 Agures. stages, when The Chiefs of Staff was to be held and

weck's Jewish basket bomb" ex- nt

to the Benelux countries, which was Invitation the correspondence."-United Press. ments and ammunition to General with reinforcements were not loaded delay the Japanese north of Johore

The regular part of the Air Force unanimously agreed upon, but it is reinforcements

was that much would depend upon the plesion in Ramlch, west

numbered about 100,000, a decrease already clear that they have money, ships Lupacity of the troops in Malaya to

Jerusalem.

of 45,000 over the past year.-Reuter. been invited to become full mem- Arabs were killed and tactically. This was a handicap.

sutleieni reinforcements could injured, 18 seriously, m the explo- "For instance, the personnel of arrive."

slon in the Romleh market place.

ters of the conference. machine-gun battalion arrived in He was concerned to find no de-

Kader Husseini, Abdul Jaya and

might have

fences had

made been

even commander of the Arab fighting valuable. but their machine

planned in detail on the north side

forces in Jerusalem,

said! tonight and equipment were in another ship, was obvious by now that we might would be met with "more and more of Singapore Island, "although it that any further Jewish outrages due many days later.

be driven back into the island and reprisals." "In fact, it was usually necessary live to defend it."

He made for several flights of ships to arrive, General Wavell said he ordered communique

this statement issued to the sometimes spread over two or three these defences to be put in hand at weeks, before one formation, such once and receivel from Mr Alfred

Hananah, the Jewish defence or- brigade, was complete.

Such Duff-Cooper, the Cabinet representa-ganisation, in a radio broadcast in tronomy of shipping space may be tive in the Far East, "a gloomy ac-Arabic tonight, accused the Mufti of essentint, but it is apt to prove a count of the efficiency of the civil Jerusalem, Haj Amin Krave tactical handleap."

El fusseini, administration and the lack of co- of ordering Abdul Kader Husseint operation between the civil and the by cable from Egypt to admit the Speaking of the broad

overall military." aspect of operations, however,

responsibility for the blasting in Ben General Sir A.E. Percival, the com-Yehuda Street "for his own and his General Wavell contrasted the posi-mander in Malaya, and the Governor, tion with the defence of Greece, a Sir Shenton Thomas, promised full

followers." year earlier, when he said it might co-operation.

EDITORIAL

A New King's Navee

HINTS that experts are work-

ing on a blueprint to provide Britain with a super-navy com- prising brand new types of war- ships comfirms earlier convictions

feat

British Government would never have taken the in- credible

step of serapping. the nation's capital ships and reður- Ing the feet to its present weak afute, unless it had reasons olker than the high cast of oli. though the weapons of war, aud methods of employing them, are constantly changing. Brital's necils

for sea power in the event of a conflict remalu just as essential

as they have over the last 150 years. The sea lanes in Britain, as well as to the Com- monwealth countries

al

the Colonies must be protected in the event of war, whether it comes next year or in 1908. Without such a safeguard England would find it extremely dieult to wake a successful war. The important uspect of the so-called secret plans for a new British navy is that they are conditioned by the development of the atomic bomb, rocket plants, propelled

missiles and other inventiona calculated to revolutionise warfare. One ex. periment is the

of a

FAN turbine engine, which

suggests oventually Jet-propelled

water craft. It is unlikely, however, that this is the only unique deve- lopment now being studied by the experts, Inasmuch that speed it- self is probably not sufficient to

War-

make vessels imune to attack from atomic bombs and projected missiles. It is patently clear, how ever, that speed and mA(SONYF;= hilty must constitute the basic requirements

future ships and these

cannot be met by 40.000

ton all-driven battle- Ahips. The last war demonstrated that heavy sites were vulnerable to air assault unless prutected by

fighter cover-the sinking the Prince of Wales and Repulse were sembre examples of this. But with the new scientifle offen- Nive weapons now. In the course of being hivented. It may be ques- tlonable whether even air cover would be suficient to proicel #lant vessels incapable of manoeuvring at more than 30 knots.

future

of

Envisaged navy of relatively smail. speedy and well armed ships, able to adapt themselves to the needs of the moment. If this is found to be the most effecilve tinval answer to the threat of new secret weapons it will also possess another advantage: smaller ships are more easily and quickly con- structed than the leviathans, cost proportionately less. and can be manned with less dimentty Precisely what the British na

naval experts are planning is subject, at this moment, only for specula tlon, but it is comforting to feel that it is not the intention of the Government to allow Britain remain a second clans naval power Indefinitely,

to

as a

been in-

Kun

ог

Paucity of Allied Resources

press.

DEMAND REJECTED

of

32

now

in n

Bomb Threat

all

HESITANT SOVIET POLICY

nol.

M. Molotov may be instructed to chunge his present policy on Ger many, If the tripartile conference producer a firm line, according to matic quarters. reports received from Paris diplo-

London, Feb. 23,-Guards on Government buildings were "alerted" tonight after a threat in London to blow up a building which housed. These reports confirm the impres- a department of the Colonial Office. Arab

sion which has prevailed here re- After an anonymous culler, speak- ing with a foreign accent had tele-many is hesitant, and that the us

that Russia's polley in Ger- tele-cently phoned warning the staff to win three minutes, a box, con- four Foreign Ministers conferences

evacuate

slans are very anxious to get the taining two large dry-cell batteries going again. attached by wires to faluing fuld, was door in the main entrance hall of desire is that the Krenilin wants to

glass jar con- found behind a quarters in Paris for this Russlan One reason given in well-informed the building, which is opposite the retain its right to a say House of Parliament.-Reuter.

In what happens in West Germany-Reuter.

who

There were inore British casualties The

in Jerusalem today following the Arst strategical conferences the east coast could be prevented if Jewish terrorist organisation.

eal of Irgun Zvai Leumi, the the with

American, Australian principal officers of the

Dutch and convoys arrived safely and on timeblamed the Brillsh for the explosion. ABDA Staff "revealed the paucity Singapore, and at a later date

He hoped to hold Johore and of the Alded resources to meet the singe a counter offensive, Japanese advance and need for reinforcements."

to

Japanese

were

Thaw Succeeds Blizzards

to

and Wates are open

two-one in Hamp-

London, Feb. 23-The icy spell, which, for two days, prevailed over nearly the whole of England and Wales, fins been followed by a thaw, which brought an improvement in The Palestine Government today

road conditions in most parts of the British Isles. flatly rejected, the demand by the the urgent Reinforcements

urzenty Jewish Agency that British forces

Tonight, all the main Contrary to the opinion of

nested in Sumatra and Java, and should the

be withdinven

roads in Surrey, Sunsex, Hampshire, Leices- from

England uil the further American and Dutch representatives, probable in Bornice and the Celebes, Army and police vehicles

Japanese advances were Jewish areas of Jerusalem and that traine except

tershire and the Peak District. General Wavell said he was unnbic The

should hire and the other on the Kent worked throughout the weekend in

Snow ploughs see how, with the very limited try to cut the supply route between blocks around the Jewish

and were also keiy to submit to search by Jews on road- Surrey border.

bulldozers resources, the Allies could afford to Australia and The Netherlands East

Tyneside, Yorkshire and parts of making the main roads passable, quarters.

these areas and have succeeded in reinforce forward alr bases such as Indies by the occupation of Amboina,

Ireland and bright sunshine today. Ambolna, Kendari in the Celebes, Timor and positions farther cast to

Jews exploded a road mine under In contrast, a British armoured car in

South of London roads were lec- several Kent villages bound Koepang in Timor, Samarinda

the were still cut off and received mili streets of Jerusalem's Jewish quar- and provisions by sledge. North Borneo, and Sebang in North

this morning and cummand the Torres Strait. Sumatra.

ter tonight öfter the quarter had

many secondary ronds were impassable. been planted with a number of elec- He emphasised that "our immediate tele mines to be used against any. He felt that the effort should be objectives

The temperature reading in London The Air Ministry gives no promise this morning concentrated further back.

should be 10 secure British vehicle entering the area.

that the thaw will continue

was 33 degrees --- 10 Singapore and to check or lamper

and degrees warmer than describes the outlook as doubitul,, Samming up the position

No British casualties were caused

was 24 hours took command

as he the Japanese advance into Borneo It was believed, but one Jewess was Kent and Yorkshire this

carlier. It was still snowing in parts of General Wavell said he could see no

January 15, and enstwards."

Twenty-five Royal Artillery bands- Injured when the blast tor down and Automobile Association reports United football ground this week- During another visit to Malaya, part of a nearby house.

morning men went to entertain at the Torquay prospect of sending support to General Wavell said he had cabled General MacArthur in the Phillp- the Chiefs of Staff that the battle for

there has been no change for the end but gave up when the instru A

British pines. The position in Burma sveiti

military vehicle was better in rond conditions, ed for the moment satisfactory.

blown up by a mine today outside a The heavy snowfalls over

ment valves froze Syrian orphanage, and a British areas during the weekend have in-growers in West Cornwall wore busy In there would Malaya. fresh Japanese landings on

Despite Army officer and two soldiers were creased travellers' troubles the picking daffodils

the freeze-up,

flower injured. Reuter.

worst districts being Essex, Kent, district today-Reuter.

In the Penzance-

011

in

be "a close run

(Continued on Pare 4)

Some