CHRONICLE OF THE GREATER EAST ASIAN WAR
—Compiled on the Basis of Bulletins Released by the Army and Navy Departments of the Imperial Headquarters and Other Relevant Official Announcements—
January 6, 1942—The army air force stages an intensive bombing raid on Mingaladon Airport in Rangoon consecutively for three days on the 4th, 5th and 6th, bringing down six Spitfire combat planes on the first day and blasting hangars and other airfield equipment on the second and third days.
After Bataan
On the Philippine front, the army air formation, conducting a furious attack since the 2nd on Limay, Balanga and Subic in the Bataan Peninsula, wrecks a total of 146 motor lorries and causes 10 vessels to turn turtle.
Mechanized Unit Annihilated
January 7—In the Trolak sector north of Kuala Lumpur on the Malay front, the army engages and aunihilate a mechanized unit of the enemy. The war materials captured include 13 heavy guns, 20 anti-tank guns, 15 trench mortars, 20 automatic guns, 50 light armoured cars, 30 motor cycles and 500 motor cars. Further, the enemy loses about 200 effectives taken prisoner and about 500 killed, while our side suffers only 17 killed and 60 wounded.
The Japanese steamer Dai-ichi Unkai Maru is attacked with a torpedo by an enemy submarine off the Izu Peninsula near Tokyo.
January 8—In an air raid on the harbour of Mouimein on the Burma front, the army air fore sends one large steamer and four medium-sized boats to the bottom with bomb-hits, blasting at the same time a railway station and a jetty.
Naval Achievements at Hongkong
The total results achieved by the Imperial Navy in Hongkong operations are announced as follows:
One destroyer, four gunboats, seven torpedo boats, one tanker, two mine-layers, and eight patrol boats sunk; 110 vessels of various denominations captured; and 128 mines destroyed.
Langley Sunk
On the Hawaii front, a Japanese submarine sinks the U. S. seaplane tender Langley, 11,050 tons at a point southwest of Johnston Island.
On the China front, the army air force shoots down five SB bombers of the Chungking air force in an air encounter to the south of Changsha.
January 9—Certain naval vessels, assisted by the naval air force, sink two enemy undersea craft in a certain war zone.
The army air force, carrying out a surprise attack on Kweilin Airfield in South China, accounts for one heavy bomber and one medium bombers.
January 10—In the Philippines, the army completely occupies Olongapo.
On the Malay front, the army air squadron destroys 23 motor lorries, and seven armoured cars and tanks of the enemy at a point north of Kuala Lumpur, and blasts two railway trains carrying enemy troops at a point southeast of the same city.
The army war planes also seriously disable two enemy submarines and bomb and set on fire one oil tanker of 3,000 tons in Malacca Strait.
Enemy Vessels Sunk
The total fatal damage inflicted on enemy vessels by the Imperial Navy since the outbreak of the war is announced as follows:
20 vessels aggregating 132,000 tons sunk by submarines,
10 vessels aggregating 57,000 tons sunk by aircraft,
One vessel, 2,000 tons, sunk otherwise, amounting, in all, to 109 vessels, or 362,000 tons.
Our losses, 12 vessels of the Army, Navy and private ownership, comprising 46,800 tons.
Enemy Torpedoes Hospital Ship
The Japanese hospital ship Harbin Maru is torpedoed and caused to capsize by an enemy submarine in the South China Sea.
January 10—The army completes the occupation of Kuala Lumpur, capital of the Federated Malay States.
Land on Tarakan and Celebes
On the Dutch East Indies front, the army and navy contingents, defying enemy resistances land on Tarakan Island and at Menado on Celebes Island.
January 12—Extending operations in the Dutch East Indies, the naval air arm attacks the seaplane base at Kolonedale on Celebes Island, demolishing nine hangars and two groups of army barracks. It also intensively raids Ternate on Gilolo Island.
In the vicinity of Tarakan, naval airplanes put out of action one twin-motored bomber and one B-17 bomber.
A special landing party of the navy, in cooperation with army troops, takes possession of Tarakan Airfield.
On the Malay front, the army air command, dispatching a combined formation of fighters and bombers, carries out three consecutive aerial attacks on Singapore, during which various military establishments on the island burst into flames. In an air dual over Johore, Japanese combat planes bring down 10 Buffalo fighters, in addition to downing nine more fighters of the enemy over Seletar on Singapore Island.
On the Philippine front, the army reduces Grande Island and captures two fortress guns.
Lexington Claimed
A Japanese submarine sinks a U. S. aircraft carrier of the Lexington class at a point west of Hawaii.
Action Against Netherlands Forces
The Japanese Government announce that the Imperial Japanese military and naval forces commenced hostilities against the Netherlands forces in the Indies on January 11, specifically adding that it entertains no intention whatever of a hostile nature toward the innocent inhabitants there.
January 13—In the Dutch East Indies sector, a special landing party of the navy occupies Kakas Airfield.
A naval air contingent shoots down four Lockheed-Hudson heavy bombers and three other heavy bombers in the vicinity of Kakas.
Another naval air unit causes four twin-motored bombers of the enemy to crash to the ground in the vicinity of Tarakan.
Certain naval vessels sink the Dutch mine-layer Prince van Oranje, 1,291 tons, off Tarakan.
Our side loses two mine-sweepers during operations centring on Tarakan.
January 14—The special landing party of the Navy reduces the whole province of Minahassa in the northern part of Celebes Island, taking enemy air bases and capturing large quantities of war materials including tanks, field artillery pieces, machine-guns and other war supplies.
January 15—In Malaya, the army air force, carrying out a fourth air raid on Singapore, detonates military establishments, brings down seven Buffalo fighters and strafes seven more machines at Tengah Airfield.
Launching a fifth air raid on Singpore, the army air arm destroys eight Buffalo fighters of the enemy, causing numerous explosions on Sembawang and Tengah Airfields.
A party of naval planes vigorously bombs Tengah Airfield and Skudai and Kluang Airfields northwest of Johore Bahru.
In a surprise raid on Endau on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula, the army air force razes militesy objectives and shipping in port, bringing down a scout plane of the enemy.
Malacca Falls
The army forces enter Malacca driving out the British remnants.
In the Dutch East Indies, the Japanese submarines have, to date, sunk four enemy ships, aggregating 27,000 tons, while our naval vessels have captured three merchantmen, totalling 4,000 tons.
The naval air force, conducting a series of destructive bombing raids on Babo and Sorong on New Guinea Island, Amboina in the Moluccas Islands and Rabaul on New Britain Island, causes conflagration to break out in the military establishments located in those places.
The Japanese expeditionary forces in central China, having completed their second Changsha campaign, announce their total war results as follows: 57,300 enemy soldiers left dead, about 2,000 taken prisoner, and 12 mountain guns, 63 trench mortars, 675 heavy and light machine-guns, 5,400 rifles, 462 grenade-rifles and grenade-throwers and large quantities of other war supplies captured.
Governor MacMillan of Guam and 420 other prisoners of war of the Battle of Guam Island have been accommodated in the Zentuji war prison according to a communique published by the Information Bureau for Prisoners of War.
January 16—On the Philippine front, the naval air force destroys the telegraph stations at Malita and Graan south of Davao.
On the Dutch East Indies front, a special landing party of the Navy occupies Likoepong at the northernmost extremity of Celebes Island.
Batu Pahat Taken
The Japanese forces in Malaya, effecting a surprise landing at the port of Batu Pahat, takes possession of the airfield there.
January 17—On the Malay front, the army air force, in an intensive bombing raid on Singapore, effectively hits the Headquarters of the British Far Eastern Army and other military establishments, destroys 11 large and medium aeroplanes at Tengah Airfield, burns down four large flying-boats and seriously disables another machine at Seletar Airfield.
A naval air formation, relentlessly bombing Singapore, on the 16th and 17th, shoots down 10 Buffalo fighters of the enemy over Tengah Airfield, machine-gunning seven Blenheim fighters and one Lockheed bomber.
Another naval air squadron, in a surprise attack on Sembawang Airfield, caeeses fire to break out on several large enemy craft and one hanger, and brings down one enemy fighter.
Yunnan Raided
The army air force, unleashing a vehement aerial attack on Mengtze in Yunnan Province, China, brings down three Curtiss fighters of the enemy.
January 18—On the Malay front, the army air force attacks and destroys with bombs various military establishments on Singapore Island and accounts for 11 Buffalo fighters.
The army airplanes shoot down one Blenheim bomber in the vicinity of Malacca, and further pursuing several enemy machines, catch up with them over Singapore and send to the ground two Lockheed bombers and one Buffalo fighter.
In the Philippines, the naval air force, attacking enemy shipping along the coast of Sebu Island, registers direct hits on one 3,000-ton ship, two 1,000-ton boats and one 500-ton craft.
New Axis Pact Signed
Japan, German and Italy sign a new military agreement at Berlin.
A naval air unit, staging a bombing raid on Singapore, causes various military establishments and a number of oil tanks, to explode, and wreaks 15 Buffalo fighters of the enemy in an aerial encounter over Kota Tinggi.
January 19—On the Burma front, in the vicinity of Kyaukmaingdaing on the 17th, the Army, after crushing an enemy unit, about 600 strong, takes full possession of Tavoy, the nemy leaving behind 570 killed, 151 taken prisoner, two mountain guns, 11 machine-guns, 318 rifles, 100,000 rounds of rifle cartridges and other war supplies.
In Sumatra, the naval air force, scouting for the enemy, bombs and destroys the harbour equipment at Sabang and Medan and one enemy ship, about 2,000 tons.
January 20—An army air squadron, raiding Singapore, bombards the Government and military establishments, including seven air plane assemblies at Seletar, and brings down seven Hawaker-Hurricane fighters of the enemy.
The army force completely occupies Endau.
Enemy Brigade Decimated
On the malay front, the Army decimates the 45th Independent Brigade of the enemy in the vicinity of Bakari and Parit Sulong, the enemy leaving behind 1,810 killed and 1,001 taken prisoner. The war booty of this encounter includes nine fieldguns, one 10-centimetre cannon, 21 trench mortars, nine quick-firing guns, nine automatic guns, 151 heavy and light machine-guns, 1,330 rifles, 29 light armoured cars, 400 motor trucks, 14 automobiles,
24 boxes of mines and large quantities of other war materials.
Raids on Singapore Continued
January 21—The army air force, continuing its raid on Singapore, bombs the central and other parts of the city as well as Tengah Airfield and the factory district at Seletar, bringing down six Buffalo fighters of the enemy which were carrying out a reconnaissance flight.
The naval air force carries out another assault on Singapore, badly pounding military and administrative centres. During the raid one enemy ship is sunk, Tengah Airfield blasted, 11 large enemy planes set on fire, and one Spitfire fighter brought down.
January 22—On the Borneo front, the naval warplanes, in a number of attacks made since the 15th on Balikh Papan on Borneo Island, Maccasar, Palpopo, Kolonedale and Kendari on Celebes Island, Ternate and Labuha in the Halmahera Islands, and Amboina on Ceram Island, deraze the equipment of these bases and either bring down or destroy on the ground 10 enemy aeroplanes including six flying-boats.
The naval air force in Malaya, attacking Singapore on the 20th and 22nd, destroys 28 enemy warplanes including four large craft on the ground and shoots down 18 other machines. Moreover, it causes one special service boat to capsize.
On the Sumatra front, the naval air force, scouting for the enemy in the vicinity of Sumatra Island, damages one 2,000-ton ship at a point near Penang Island and sinks two enemy vessels, about 4,000 tons and 6,000 tons respectively, in the harbour of Labuan Deli.
More Enemy Shipping Claimed
The Japanese submarines have sunk a total of 13 enemy vessels aggregating about 88,000 tons, on the Sumatra and Java fronts up to the 22nd, it is announced.
January 23—In the Bismarck Archipelago sector, the army and navy units land on Rabaul in New Britain Island after repulsing enemy resistances.
A special landing party of the navy establishes foothold at Kavieng in New Ireland Island in face the enemy.
In Burma, the army air force, in an intensive bombing raid on the airfields around Rangoon, brings down seven enemy fighters in an aerial encounter and another batch of 15 enemy fighters over Mingaladon Airport.
In Sumatra, the Japanese warplanes staging a surprise attack on Palembang Airfields, set on fire one Boeing-17 craft and shoot down five fighters in a dog-fight.
Taoa Taken
January 24—On the Borneo front, an army unit takes complete possession of Taoa, a key position in British Boenro.
In Malaya, the Japanese air formation, carrying out a vigorous bombing raid on Seletar Airfield and an aircraft assembly in Singapore, destroys two large bombers and seriously damages one large bomber, besides shooting down 11 fighters.
Economic Plans Elucidated
General Hideki Tojo, Prime Minister, and Lieutenant-General Teiichi Suzuki, president of the Board of Planning, elucidate the general outline of the economic construction to be undertaken for Greater East Asia.
Land at Balikh Papan
January 25—The army and navy forces land on Balikh Papan in face of the enemy. During the operation the Japanese contingenets engage enemy naval and air units and sink one enemy submarine, our side losing four transports.
A special landing party of the navy successfully disembarks at Kendari in Celebes Island.
In Bismarck Archipelago, another landing party of the Navy takes complete possession of Kavieng.
On the Malay front, the Army gains full control over Yongpeng in Johore.
On the Borneo front, the Army completely occupies Balikh Papan.
The Army decimates an enemy unit about 4,000 strong in the vicinity of Senggarang in Malaya capturing 39 taksn, 164 guns, 243 motor vehicles and large quantities of other war supplies.
The United States Government announces the losses at the Battle at Pearl Harbor as 4,500 killed for the Navy and 1,000 killed for the Army.
Thailand Declares War
Thailand declares war on the United States of America and the British Empire, and Thai troops start marching into Burmese territory.
January 26—In the Dutch East Indies, a special landing party of the Navy completes the occupation of Kendari.
The army air force, engaging a large formation of enemy aeroplanes over the vicinity of Endau on the east coast of Malaya, sends 12 torpedo planes, 18 bombers and the nine fighters, spinning to the ground in flames.
The army air force intensively bombs Tengah Airfield, and brings down
one enemy fighter.
On the Burma front, an army air unit unloads projectiles on Rangoon and cuases 10 enemy fighters to crash to the ground.
British Destroyer Sunk in Sea Fight
January 27—On the Malay front, two Japanese destroyers engaging two British destroyers in the offing of Edau on the coast of the Penisula, sink one and rout the other.
Forty-five Enemy Planes Claimed
The naval air force since the 22nd staging a series of widespread bombing attacks on Balikh Papan, Samarinda, Banjermasin, Amboina and Namlea in the Dutch East Indies area and on Rabaul in the New Guinea area, destroys either in the air or on the ground a total of 45 enemy planes including two flying-boats and causes various military establishments to explode.
More Warplanes downed
The naval air force gains control over Macassar Strait, Ceram Sea, Molucca Sea, Flores Sea and Banda Sea on the 26th and 27th, and during operations launches repeated attacks on the enemy air bases in Borneo, Celebes, Ceram and Boero islands, destroying either in the air or on the ground a total of 45 enemy craft.
January 29 A naval air unit, in a vigorous bombing operation on Seletar Airfield in Singapore Island, brings down two fighters of the enemy.
On the Dutch East Indies front, an army unit completes occupation of Pontianak on Borneo Island.
January 30—On the Sumatra front, a naval air squadron, carrying out a spirited bombing attack on an enemy transport fleet in Banka Strait, sinks or seriously damages three vessels.
In the Dutch East Indies, the naval air force carries out intensive air raids on the enemy air bases at Amboina, Namlea, Koepang and Kolbano destroying either in the air or on the ground a total of seven machines.
Advisers for Arms
Mr. Hidejiro Nagata, Mr. Shozo Murata, Mr. Shigemasa Sunda and Marquis Yoshichika Tokugawa are appointed advisers to the administrative organs in the areas under military occupation.
Johore Bahru Falls
January 31—On the Malay front, the army takes complete possession of
Johore Bahru, its fall occurring on the 55th day after the first landing of Japanese troops on the Malay Peninsula. During the campaign, a total distance of about 1,500 kilometres have been covered by the Army in field operations, about 650 kilometres in operations by sea, about 250 damaged bridges repaired and 92 times important enemy units engaged. The war booty during the said operations include some 330 artillery pieces, about 550 machine-guns, about 250 tanks and armoured cars, about 3,600 motor cars, and large quantities of other war supplies, while the enemy left about 8,000 taken prisoner and about 5,000 killed in action, the enemy troops destroyed being estimated at aboutt two divisions strong.
The army air force, in an intensive bombing raid on Seletar Airfield in Singapore Island, brings down 13 enemy fighters.
On the Dutch East Indies front, army and naval forces effect landing at Amboina on Ceram Island.
Moulmein Occupied
On the Burma front, an army unit occupies Moulmein.
February 1—On the South Sea front, the Navy stages a counterattack on an naval unit consisting of an aircraft carrier, an A-class cruiser and several destroyers, which has been operating to attack Marshall Island, bombing and setting on fire the A-class cruiser and shooting down 11 aeroplanes during the encounter.
Eighty five Planes Destroyed
February 3 On the Dutch East Indies front, the sending out a large formation of machines to attack from the air the principal enemy air base at Sourabaya and Nalang on Java Island, destroys either in the air or on the ground a total of 85 enemy planes.
The naval air force sends to the bottom three enemy boats, about 6,000 tons, 3,000 tons and 2,000 tons respectively, during operations on western Java Sea since February 1.
On the Malay front, the army air force bombs and destroys several piers and docks on Singapore Island and sets on fire a large troop-ship, in addition to scoring direct hits on one large boat, three medium-sized vessels and several other craft.
On the Burma front, the army air force stages a surprise attack on Toungoo Airfield and destroys with bombs one large bomber and six fighters.
February 4—In Southern Burma, an army unit takes complete possession of Powan.
An army air squadron carries out a vigorous bombing attack on Rangoon and Hlegn airfields.
Java Sea Battle
On the Dutch East Indies front, the naval air force in a determined bombing operation against the main force of the enemy fleet in Java Sea sends to the bottom the cruisers Java, 6,670 tons, and De Ruyter, 6,450 tons of the Dutch East Indies Navy, seriously damaging the cruiser Sumatra 6,670 tons, and a light cruiser of the Tromp type, 3,550, of the Dutch East Indies Navy and one A-class cruiser of the Houston type, 9,005 tons, of the United States Navy. This naval battle is officially called the Naral Battle off the Java Coast.
Air Raid on Sourabaya
February 5—A large formation of naval warplanes for a second time attacks Sourabaya destroying either in the air or on the ground a total of 15 Dutch planes and 11 U. S. craft. It also stages a surprise attack on Djimbaran Airfield on Bali Island, claiming eiht enemy planes, either brought down or destroyed on the ground.
A Japansse submarine sinks a large enemy destroyer in Java Sea.
The Japanese army in China commences a new operation in the southern part of Shantung Province.
February 6—On the Burma front, four formations of army planes successively bomb Mingaladon Air port, wrecking a total of 12 enemy craft.
On the Sumatra front, the army air force stages a vigorous bombing attack on Muntok Airfield on Banka Island, claiming 28 enemy planes.
Army Discloses War Results
The war results claimed by the army since the outbreak of hostilities with the United States and the British Empire, are announced as follows:
1. War booty—24 aeroplanes, 224 tanks and armoured cars, 508 artillery pieces, 1,492 machine guns, 19,301 rifles, 3,756 motor vehicles, 1,037 railway cars, 307 boats and quantities of other war materials, fuels and foodstuffs.
2. The enemy aeroplanes destroyed either in the air or on the ground—444 known to have been destroyed exclusive of a considerable number to those whose destruction remains to be confirmed, 470 damaged, totalling 914.
3. The enemy warships and boats sunk or damaged—92
4. The enemy soldiers taken prisoner—22,371
5. The enemy war dead left on battle-fields—7,700
6. Our losses—3,882 killed or wounded exclusive of those killed or wounded on the Malay front, 153 aeroplanes lost, 10 transports sunk and 16 transports damaged, six of which have since resumed service after
completing necessary repairs
Advisers Named for Navy
Mr. Ginjiro Fujiwara, Mr. Kakichi Takeuchi, Mr. Ryuta Ono, Mr. Iwao Yamazaki, and Mr. Aiichiro Fujiyama are appointed advisers to the Department of the Navy.
February 7—In Sumatra, an army air unit in a bombing sortie over Palembang Airfield, destroys either in the air or on the ground a total of 50 enemy planes.
In Burma, the army air force claims 11 enemy planes during a spectacular attack on Mingaladon Airport in Rangoon.
February 8—A group of army warplanes destroys either in the air or on the ground a total of 17 enemy planes during a relentless bombing operation on Palembang Airfield in Sumatra Island.
Land on Singapore Island
February 9—The Japanese Army, crossing Johore Straits in face of stout enemy gunfire at 12:16 a.m., completes occupation of Tengah Airfield on Singapore sland at 7 p.m. after liquidating the stubborn resistance of the enemy.
On the Dutch East Indies front, the naval air force sends out a large formation of planes to attack Batavia, capital of the Dutch colony, and bombs and damages the enemy airfields at Tjililitan, Kabajoran and Tandjoeng Priok, destroying either in the air or on the ground a total of 20 enemy planes.
Macassar Taken
A special landing party of the navy takes full possession of Macassar, a key position in Celebes Island.
In Bismarck Archipelago, a special landing party of the Navy completes occupation of Gasmata on New Britain Island.
Commander Revealed
The Imperial Headquarters announces the name of the supreme commander of the Japanese army foces on the Malay front as Lieutenant-General Tomoyuki Yamashita.
February 10—In Borneo, an army unit, after covering about 400 kilometres over an unfavourable terrain from Tanahagrogot completely occupies Banjermasin.
An army unit after crossing the Salween River in Lower Burma takes possession of Martaban.
Japanese Advance into Singapore City
February 11— An army contigent fights its way into the city of Singapore.
JAPAN OCCUPIES SINGAPORE1
The Japanese army forces on the Malay front succeeded in compelling the enemy troops entrenched in Singapore fortress to surrender unconditionally at 7.50 p.m. on February 15, according to a communique issued by the Imperial Headquarters the same day.
Another official announcement at the same time reveals that the commander-in-chief of the Japanese army forces in the southern regions is General Count Hisaichi Terauchi.
1 Further details of the fall of Singapore will be included as usual in the "War Chronicle" section of the next issue.