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. JAPANESE ONLY 15 MILES
SINGAPORE .
'RAPID ADVANCE IN 'LAST 48 HOURS;
5 a FORTRESS PREPARES FOR SIEGE
MELBOURNE, Friday.r-The Japanese are rapidly closing in on Sing
apore. They are only 15 miles from Singapore Island. The fortress is pre
paring for a siege and a curfew has been imposed.
The Australian War Cabinet loday made important decisions about
Malaya. ,
Yesterday's; Singaporeneommunique revealed that the Japanese in
central Johore had advanced 30 miles in 48 hours, to Kulai, 15 miles from
the narrow Strait of Johore.
The, Berlin radio says the Japanese claim that bombers destroyed the
Singapore navdl base including the arsenal and docks.
'MELBOURNE. Friday..— Federal
'Ministers do not attempt to conceal
the; increasing gravity of the Japanese
threat to Singapore. A number of
'lmtiortant "decisions, til' tails of which
cannot be' disolosed 'for security rca-
sbns were made by the ' Australian War
Cabinet In Melbourne to-day, after
reports had been received from the
Chiefs Of the fighting services.
'The '"reports presented to the Ad
visory War Counoll to-day declared
thfit -although ' the A.I.F. in Malaya
were being compelled to give ground
steadily before the Japanese attack, all
Units' continue to fight magnificently.
British commanders in the ' Far : East
have Informed the Australian Govern
ment that, as' fighting men, the Aus
tralians ore immeasurably superior to
the Japanese; invaders. They ' assert
that .4136 Australian line has never
been forced back by a Japanese fron
tal attack. Whenever, the Australians
have retired, they have done so because
of outflanking movements launched by
the Japanese on points of the line not
held by A.I.F. troops.
SINGAPORE, January 30.— A com-,
munlque states "There is no change-
in the situation on the eastern lront.
There was contact with the enemy
about Kulai in the central sector and
heavy fighting occurred on Thursday
In the Sedemak area. Enemy air ac
tivity Is considerable against our for-
ward positions and communications.
Some lighting occurred ih the western
sector, in the Ponttanbesar area. A
further 1000 of our troops cut off in
the Batu Pahat area have now re-
Joined our main bodies. There was
Increased enemy air activity in the
past 24 hours In the Singapore area.
Some damage was done. During yester
day and last night our nntt-aircralt
gunners shot down' two raiders. Our
lighters during this morning's enemy
air raids against Singapore Island de
stroyed one enemy lighter and severely
damaged several other planes. None of
ours 'is . missing.
' Yesterday's communique says "Re
ports' from the east coast front indi
cate that Australian troops on Tues
day carried out a successful action,
the enemy being caught between our
forward elements and artillery fire;
Enemy casualties are estimated at
about 250 and ours at about 30. Our
troops in this area contacted 1 the
enemy about Ulu Sedill.
"Chi tlie centre of the sector yester
day a company of an Australian bat
talion successfully counter-attacked
the enemy with- bayonets. Enemy cas
ualties are estimated 'at 200 with, it
is believed, no loss to cur troops."
A further 570 of our troops who were
cut off In the Batu Pahat area have
now joined the main bodies. -Tlie raids
In the Singapore area on Wednesday
caused no military damage. One for
mation of bombers approaching Singa
pore Island was driven off' by fighters
and Jettisoned Its bombs. One bom'rer
was destroyed and another probably
destroyed.
Air activity has been slight. In the
| Kluong and Aver Hitman area no
. change hastxep. reported. Heavy fight-
i inn is taking place around Rengit.
I The Tokto official radio said the
Japanese advancing along the east
coast violently attacked strong Allied
formations at Jemaluang.
WASHINGTON, January 30.— A
communique Issued at 9.30 a.m. says
"Headlong enemy infantry assaults on
our right and left flanks at Bataan
were broken up by our artillery flre,
with heavy enemy losses.
"In the Indies a third attack by
heavy American bombers on Japanese
shipping in Macassar Strait resu'l/d
In the destruction of an enemy trans
port. At Batik Fapnn Harbour another
was set on five. Two enemy planes
were shot down and a third damaged..
Five of our bombers participated and
all returned safely."
The Tokio Radio sold the British
destroyer Thanet was torpedoed while
attempting to impede Japanese land
ing operations near Endau. Japanese
ships picked up some survivors.
Further Landings In Torres
BATAVIA, January 30.— A communi
que of the Netherlands East Indies
fighting forces states "Japanese troops
landed at pc.nangkat, on the west
coast of Borneo, south of Kuchlng,
while at the same time also on the
land heavy pressure was exerted on
our troops operating in these regions.
Notwithstanding fierce resistance the
Japanese obtained local successes.
WJille pontianak was being threatened
by enemy troops all important objec
tives on the spot were destroyed by us.
Naval aircraft carried out actions
ngdinst Japanese units in that aren.
Further reports from Kendari state the
Japanese landings In that vicinity
were effected at two points covered
by flre from Japanese warships. Strong
resistance is being continued. Our
troops held their positions.
"An attack was again carried out on
Kemahaven and again no casualties
or damage was inflicted on ships lying
there. At several points in the outer
provinces air activity continued while
the enemy Apparently was carrying out
air reconnaissance. Reports from Ballk
Papan make lt clear that there, too,
resistance is stubbornly continuing."
A K.N.I.L.M. plane was attacked and
shot down by Japanese fighters. Three
members of the crew, Tonkaten, rtuy-
tcr and Dornbos and two passengers
were killed.
NEW YORK, January 30.—' Tokio
official radio said Imperial Headquar
ters claimed Japanese navnl pianos
had won uir superiority on sea and
land between Borneo and the Celebes
and New Guinea. It specifically claimed
its domination over shipping south
ward to the easternmost Indies and
Australia.
Rangoon radio said mass meetings
In Thailand protested to the Govern
ment against the war declaration
against the Allies, and that protests
were sent to the Council and King
Anada Mahldol.
The Tokio ofllctal radio said the
"Japan Times and Advertiser" threat
ened to-day that Japan would -.elim
inate the last vestiges of French con
trol in Indo-China ur/ess hostile
activities ceased.
LONDON. January 30.— A Rangoon
army communique said on the Zen-
asserin front the situation in general
was unchanged. There was slight
activity to the south where British
troops engaged a small enemy force.
A message from Rangoon said 13
Japanese planes were shot down for
certain, and five probably shot down.
All attacks against Rangoon were
beaten off without loss.
NEW YORK January 30.— Tlie
Chungking official radio said a com
munique states Chinese troops are
striking steadily at Japanese railways
and highways on a 1000-mile front.
The Government Spokesman said
"Chinese troops in Burma . have not
yet. been, in -. action but are taking
battle positions, preparing for attacks
on Thailand."
A Chungking message says that in
announcing the Japanese lost at least
56.994 dead and prisoners in Chnngsha
battle, the Central News Agency says
this officinl compilation is based on
the number of bodies counted on
battelflelds north of the city, not
accounting for many cremated by the
retreating Japanese.
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