News for this February 11th was certainly one of contrasts. Depending on who you asked, Singapore was only days away from falling to the Japanese and a full-on assault on Australia was only a matter of days or even weeks. And others would tell you Singapore was solidly holding on with heavy casualties inflicted on the Japanese invasion force, and Australia was in a better position as ever to thwart any attempt at invasion.
As they alway say, the truth lay somewhere in the middle as the war of words continued.
The Domei representative in Malaya stated “The Japanese air force on February 11 bombed 25 warships and merchantmen preparing to leave Singapore with the defenders. Direct hits were scored on 10 vessels, two being set on fire. Japanese planes also bombed objectives on the island without being challenged by enemy planes.” LONDON, February 11. Berlin broadcast a Tokyo report, asserting that the Japanese penetrated the suburbs of Singapore at 2 p.m. western (local time). The Vichy radio broadcast Tokyo report that the Japanese had occupied Selatar airfield. LONDON, February 12. Contrasting with the Berlin claims, Tokyo transmitted Domei dispatch from Singapore stating that the Japanese forces this morning continued their advance on the city In successive wares.
The Berlin radio, giving an “eyewitness account of the capture of Singapore city,” stated: “We advanced yesterday from Tonga, breaking through position after position and forcing the British back. We marched in two separate columns. Our spearhead comprised of shock troops, equipped with special weapons. They tried to surpass each other in speed and at 7 a.m. today we approached the first houses in Singapore from the west.
We met severe resistance. We were forced to pause, completely exhausted, at 8 a.m., but after a few minutes our troops could not be held back. They advanced rank by rank in the streets of Singapore, shouting “Banzai.’ We carried out mopping up operations, disarming British, Australian and Indian troops and are bringing them away in large groups. The Japanese continued to pour into Singapore city while their planes flew low over the rooftops, The task is now completed.” TOKYO, February 12. An official message states : Strong army units, assisted by the air force, launched an offensive at dawn to crush the British resistance around the reservoir, in the centre of Singapore Island.
*Our troops yesterday concentrated on British positions deeply in the direction of Bukit Timah, securing mastery over the island’s main defence fortifications.’ A Berlin news agency message from Tokyo stated: “The Japanese penetrated the centre of Singapore city. The original British force on the island was 100,000, of which about 75,000 were killed or taken prisoner.” The Rome radio stated “A Domei agency report from Singapore stated that the Japanese conquered the city after 52 hours, forcing position after position.” The Bangkok radio stated that the Japanese heavily bombed British ships preparing to evacuate troops.
And that’s just a little how the day went on January 11, 1942 as heard by the English service of Radio Tokyo and Radio Shanghai.
