Singapore

"Inside Story" of Singapore

AN “inside explanation” of the fall of Singapore was given to members of the Pacific Islands Society by Major- General Gordon Bennett, at their June meeting. This distinguished Australian soldier was in charge of much of the defensive fighting against the Japs advancing in the Malay Peninsula early in 1942; and here are some of the points he emphasised: • The British military forces "were hopelessly outnumbered, comprising only two divisions of Indians, the Australian division, and some English and Scottish formations. • Our troops were neither trained nor equipped for jungle fighting. A propor tion of the Indians were practically with out training; the men from Britain were equipped as if for a cold country.

All formations fought with magnificent courage. The English officers in charge of the Indian troops died almost to a man. The Australians, having suffered terrible losses in the retreat, because they preferred to fight their way out, again and again, rather than surrender, were so distressed when told that the capitu lation of Singapore was decided on that General Bennett could not recall the incident without emotion.

The British air force consisted only of a few old crates; while Japanese aircraft filled the skies.

Singapore was not a fortress—and cer tainly not a fortress capable of resisting land attack. Singapore consisted of a great naval dockyard, with a very small number of big guns pointing out to sea, and an open, defenceless city.

Vastly out-numbered, ill-equipped, with water supply cut off. without air cover, with hundreds of thousands of helpless Asiatics open to slaughter, it was impos sible to plan any kind of effective resistance.