Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Jan 8 – 14, 1942

Jan 8, 1942: While Japanese forces are victorious everywhere else in Asia, the Chinese army force them into retreat at city of Changsha

British General Archibald Wavell, supreme commander of Allied forces in the Far East, inspects Malay front, where defending troops, including a large contingent of Indians, are under severe pressure from advancing Japanese

Jan 9, 1942: Japanese forces commence attack on beleaguered American and Philippine forces on Bataan peninsula

In Malaya, Indian 3rd Corps is ordered into Johore to form a last line of defense before Singapore

Jan 10, 1942: General Douglas MacArthur, commander of US forces in the Far East, inspects defenses on Philippine peninsula of Bataan

Led by General Yamashita Tomoyuki, known as ‘the Tiger of Malaya’, Japanese troops make rapid advances on Malay peninsula

Jan 11, 1942: Japanese forces make landing at Tarakan, first step of invasion of oil-rich Dutch East Indies

Japanese forces seize Malay city of Kuala Lumpur

Jan 12, 1942: Japanese forces keep up pressure on American and Philippine defenses on Bataan peninsula

US forces strengthen defenses of Pacific coast amid lingering fears of Japanese moves

Jan 13, 1942: Chinese forces take large number of Japanese prisoners at end of Changsha battle

Fifty British Hawker Hurricane aircraft arrive in Singapore to boost defenses against Japanese offensive

Jan 14, 1942: Japanese troops advance towards Gemenscheh bridge on the Malay peninsula. An Australian ambush at the bridge causes 130 Japanese casualties

Categories: War

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