By way of an extremely rare Shortwave news broadcast in English – the news, as it was reported for the period of January 21-23, 1943 on the situation in Malaya and other points in the South Pacific as well as a broadcast by Radio Australia on the situation as it stood there.
Very difficult to hear clearly, because of the nature of shortwave and also jamming of the Australian broadcast by the Japanese.
Here is a gist of what was going on that day, mostly as viewed by the Allies and reported by The Daily Mail:
A Tokyo communique today claimed Japanese occupation of air bases in Minahassa Peninsula (north-eastern Celebes). “Japanese submarines have sunk four ships in Dutch East Indies waters totaling 37,000 tons” the communique added. “Japanese naval units on January, 9 sank two enemy submarines in the Pacific.” Batavia report said three bombers co-operated with the Dutch East Indies Air Force’ in attacks on Japanese naval forces engaged Island in land- (off ing a operations at Tarakan north-east Borneo). The report. added: “Bad weather obscured visibility, but it is known two Japanese fighters were destroyed.
All Allied planes returned undamaged.”
“The situation in Malaya is regarded in London with extreme seriousness, although the B.B.C. is playing down reverses and is talking of rearguard actions as if they were victories.’ The Evening Standard’s military correspondent says: “Details from Malaya confirm our doubts. “We never held forward zones on the That border. We failed to hold airfields, we did not scorch the earth.
“Now we are leading back to Singapore fine fighting men who are too weary to fight. “Thirty Japanese tanks were enough to force us from Kuala Lumpur.’ Daily Mall: “Excuse for Malayan unpreparedness has been that material was badly needed in the Middle East and Russia. “But was it impossible to spare a few score tanks of the thousands sent to Russia and Egypt?” The Times’ Parliamentary correspondent says: “M.P.’s view developments of the critical situation in Malaya with a degree of uneasiness which foreshadows a serious and searching debate when Parliament reassembles.”
Again, very difficult to hear at times, but a very rare and important recording of what broadcasts were sounding like from the other side of the coin during World War 2.
