Singapore, Mar. 20.
Plans to increase Malay and Indian military establishments in Malaya by 1,000 have been devised.—Sappers and gunners will be affected. The establishment of a garrison at Penang has increased the need for military personnel in Malaya.
Indian gunners are included in the 8th (Singapore) Heavy Battery Hongkong-Singapore, Royal Artillery, which goes to Penang this month. More will be required to take their place in the Singapore garrison and to supplement those at Penang.
Malay sappers have been trained at Singapore since the early part of last year. Their job is to man the searchlights and sound locators which play such a prominent part in the defence of Singapore against air raids. It is expected that eventually the strength of the Malays will be raised to 900 men, or battalion strength.
Defence expenditure in Malaya this year will be nearly £225,000 less than that of last year. It will total about £2,000,000. The only arm of the services for which there will be greater expenditure this year will be in the Royal Air Force.
This is accounted for by the commencement of work on several new stations on the mainland of the Maley Peninsula to protect the island fortress from "back-door" attack, and fairly heavy expenditure on the west side of the island, and Sembawang. near the existing Air Base and the Naval Base.
The new stations on the mainland are at Kuantan, on the east coast, Kluang, inland in north Johore, and Sungei Patani, on the west coast of ihe peninsula, near Penang, the new fortress for North Malaya.—Reuter WOULD someone help? Young Eurasian lady seeks position as typist/ stenographer, Hard-worker and reliable Address Box 1980, NCDN.
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