The Archive · 1938

Japanese Soldiers Turned Back

Prevented from Entering U.S.

Defence Sector Two armed Japanese soldiers were prevented from proceeding along Bubbling Well Road at the corner of Vu Ya Ching Road yesterday afternoon by American marines.

The two Japanese were riding in a motorcycle in Nanking Road running in a westerly direction, when American marines patrolling their defence sector stopped them at about 2 p.m., compelling them to turn back. About ten Japanese marines riding in a motor lorry proceeding in the same direction were, however, admitted without any difficulty.

The American patrols consist of sixteen marines who were divided inia two units. They were reported io be under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Bates of the Sixth Magines.

Singapore, Feb. 14. 'HOUSANDS of spectators mingled their cheers with the booming of guns as the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Shenton Thomas, opened the great £ 20,000,000 Singapore graving "The weather was dull and sultry as Sir Shenton Thomas, on board the yacht Sea Belle LI, sailed through the ribbon drawn Half an hour later the Governor, at the invitation of Col. J. J. Liewellin, Civil Lord of the Admiralty, named the second largest graving dock in the world, the King George VI Dock, and unveiled the tablet Earlier, Sir Shenton Thomas and Col. Llewéllin, accompanied by Vice-Admiral L. G. E. Crabbe, lately Acting Commander-in-Chief of \the China Squadron, made a 2% hours trip round the Island in the Sea Belle LI io the Straits of Johore from the Singapore Roads, passing the new base on their way.

Other important features of the Island's £30,000,000 defences were also passed by the Sea Belle LI. These included 15 and 18 inch guns with a rengo of 20 miles set in huge contrate emplacements, Just before reaching the base, the party in the Government yacht was joined by the Sultan of Johore, H. H. Sir Ibrahim, and the Sea Belle LI was then impressively escorted by two patrol launches and two Fleet air-arm squadrons. It was greeted on arrival by a salute of seventeen guns, "Enterprise for Peace"

In opening the dock. which he described as "a great enterprise for peace, Sir Thomas Shenton paid a tribute not only to the Colony, which had presented the land, but to the whole of Malaya, which had shared the burden of Imperial defence He cited as an instance the Colony's contribution of more than £2,500,000 in five years, including £60,000 voted by the Legislative Council this morning at the instance of non-official members. He also mentioned the large contributions made by the Federated Malay States and Johore, amounting to more than £1,000,000 a year over the last five years.

"The base is not a challenge to war," Sir Shenton Thomas declared, "but an insurance against war, A symbol of the care of the Mother Country for her people in the British Empire, it is one of the most potent influences on civilization, but it must be strong."

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Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.

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