Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Jan 1 – 7, 1942

Jan 1, 1942: Japanese and Indian troops engaged in fierce battle for control of city of Kampar on Malay peninsula

Jan 2, 1942: Japanese forces occupy Philippine capital of Manila

Jan 3, 1942: General Archibald Wavell, supreme commander of American, British, Dutch and Australian forces in the Far East, is ordered to hold the Malay Barrier, a line stretching from the Malay peninsula to Sumatra, Java and Australia

Jan 4, 1942: Australian forces at Rabaul in the South Pacific, including a group of nurses, brace for attack as Japanese planes commence raids of military facilities near the strategic port

Jan 5, 1942: US and Philippine troops withdraw to line at base of Bataan peninsula

General George Brett is put in command of US Army Forces in Australia

Jan 6, 1942: Chinese and Japanese forces engage in fierce combat during third battle of Changsha

Jan 7, 1942: Japanese forces break through Slim River positions on Malay peninsula, pushing on towards Kuala Lumpur

Categories: War

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