Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 14, 2023 10:35:57 GMT 12
From the New Zealand Herald, 1st of February 1937:
From the New Zealand Herald, 2nd of February 1937:
From the New Zealand Herald, 3rd of February 1937:
From the New Zealand Herald, 4th of February 1937:
From the New Zealand Herald, 5th of February 1937:
NAVAL EXERCISES
SINGAPORE FORCES
DOMINIONS UNREPRESENTED
LONDON, Jan. 29
In view of the importance of Singapore in Imperial defence, particularly in regard to Australia, surprise that no vessels of the Australian Navy or of the New Zealand Division are to participate in the defence exercises to begin on Sunday is expressed by Mr. Hector C. Bywater, naval correspondent of the Daily Telegraph.
"Australia could have contributed three modern cruisers, a seaplane-carrier and several destroyers." writes Mr. Bywater. "New Zealand could have sent two cruisers, the presence of which would have enabled the manoeuvres to be conducted on a more realistic scale."
SINGAPORE FORCES
DOMINIONS UNREPRESENTED
LONDON, Jan. 29
In view of the importance of Singapore in Imperial defence, particularly in regard to Australia, surprise that no vessels of the Australian Navy or of the New Zealand Division are to participate in the defence exercises to begin on Sunday is expressed by Mr. Hector C. Bywater, naval correspondent of the Daily Telegraph.
"Australia could have contributed three modern cruisers, a seaplane-carrier and several destroyers." writes Mr. Bywater. "New Zealand could have sent two cruisers, the presence of which would have enabled the manoeuvres to be conducted on a more realistic scale."
From the New Zealand Herald, 2nd of February 1937:
MOCK WARFARE
SINGAPORE MANOEUVRES
COMBINED FORCES
AN ATTACK PENDING
(Received February 1, 5.48 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Feb. 1
Naval, military and air manoeuvres were begun at Singapore this morning. A communique states that Blue Land, an imaginary independent State supposed to be 1200 miles south-east of Singapore has a small but efficient fleet including an air arm and a small standing army armed and equipped on modern lines.
Blue Land has always lived on terms of friendship with Red Land (Singapore) supposed to be a fortified colony of a western Power (Britain).
Nevertheless, Red Land received intelligence on January 6 which then was classed as unreliable, to the effect that the Blue Land forces had resolved to attempt to attack Red Land with the object of capturing the island.
On January 12, it is supposed, reliable information was received that Blue Land was fitting out a combined expedition reported to consist of warships, transports, and aircraft-carriers, which was expected to sail at the end of January. It was definitely established to-day that the Blue Land forces had sailed.
THE PARTICIPANTS
NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE
(Received February 1, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, Jan. 31
The ships on the China station, Army units in the Singapore area and Royal Air Force squadrons in the Far East command, supplemented by certain squadrons from India and Irak, will take part in the combined operations at Singapore. The manoeuvres will provide an opportunity of studying problems affecting the defence of Singapore.
SINGAPORE MANOEUVRES
COMBINED FORCES
AN ATTACK PENDING
(Received February 1, 5.48 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Feb. 1
Naval, military and air manoeuvres were begun at Singapore this morning. A communique states that Blue Land, an imaginary independent State supposed to be 1200 miles south-east of Singapore has a small but efficient fleet including an air arm and a small standing army armed and equipped on modern lines.
Blue Land has always lived on terms of friendship with Red Land (Singapore) supposed to be a fortified colony of a western Power (Britain).
Nevertheless, Red Land received intelligence on January 6 which then was classed as unreliable, to the effect that the Blue Land forces had resolved to attempt to attack Red Land with the object of capturing the island.
On January 12, it is supposed, reliable information was received that Blue Land was fitting out a combined expedition reported to consist of warships, transports, and aircraft-carriers, which was expected to sail at the end of January. It was definitely established to-day that the Blue Land forces had sailed.
THE PARTICIPANTS
NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE
(Received February 1, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, Jan. 31
The ships on the China station, Army units in the Singapore area and Royal Air Force squadrons in the Far East command, supplemented by certain squadrons from India and Irak, will take part in the combined operations at Singapore. The manoeuvres will provide an opportunity of studying problems affecting the defence of Singapore.
From the New Zealand Herald, 3rd of February 1937:
COMBINED FORCES
MOCK WARFARE
SINGAPORE MANOEUVRES
"INVADERS" STILL AWAITED
By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 2, 5.5 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Feb 1
At present no "declaration of war" on Red Land has been wirelessed by Blue Land in connection with the combined services manoeuvres. Any Blue forces which approach within 200 miles of Singapore will be regarded as hostile and will be liable to be "sunk" without further warning.
Air Patrols were out all day, but the Blue Fleet was not sighted. The coast defences are being rapidly manned. There are machine-gun nests along the coast and some are stationed in the gardens of European seaside bungalows.
FLYING-BOAT CRASHES
ONE OCCUPANT MISSING
(Received February 2, 5.50 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Feb. 2
After taking off at dawn to-day to continue the search for the Blue Fleet a flying-boait crashed in the Straits of Johore and one man is missing. Two Blue destroyers were found at 7 a.m. when they were 180 miles south and south-east respectively of Singapore.
MOCK WARFARE
SINGAPORE MANOEUVRES
"INVADERS" STILL AWAITED
By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 2, 5.5 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Feb 1
At present no "declaration of war" on Red Land has been wirelessed by Blue Land in connection with the combined services manoeuvres. Any Blue forces which approach within 200 miles of Singapore will be regarded as hostile and will be liable to be "sunk" without further warning.
Air Patrols were out all day, but the Blue Fleet was not sighted. The coast defences are being rapidly manned. There are machine-gun nests along the coast and some are stationed in the gardens of European seaside bungalows.
FLYING-BOAT CRASHES
ONE OCCUPANT MISSING
(Received February 2, 5.50 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Feb. 2
After taking off at dawn to-day to continue the search for the Blue Fleet a flying-boait crashed in the Straits of Johore and one man is missing. Two Blue destroyers were found at 7 a.m. when they were 180 miles south and south-east respectively of Singapore.
From the New Zealand Herald, 4th of February 1937:
ATTACK REPULSED
SINGAPORE MANOEUVRES
DESTROYERS IN ACTION
LANDING ATTEMPTS FAIL
By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 3, 0.35 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Feb. 3
In continuation of the combined naval, military and air manoeuvres at Singapore, the naval patrols and coast defences last night were actively engaged in beating off Blue Land destroyers which attacked the eastern entrance and attempted to land small parties.
The judges determined that two destroyers had been put out of action and that the landing parties had been driven off with heavy losses. There have been no air attacks on Singapore yet, but the aircraft-carrier Hermes, the most important of the attacking craft, has been sighted to the east-north-east.
After an all-day search yesterday, air patrols located the destroyers heading north-west and an unknown number of submarines to the east. These dived as soon as they were sighted. In the crash of a flying-boat in the Straits of Johore yesterday, Pilot-Officer Robert Blair, aged 22, was killed but six others were rescued.
SINGAPORE MANOEUVRES
DESTROYERS IN ACTION
LANDING ATTEMPTS FAIL
By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 3, 0.35 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Feb. 3
In continuation of the combined naval, military and air manoeuvres at Singapore, the naval patrols and coast defences last night were actively engaged in beating off Blue Land destroyers which attacked the eastern entrance and attempted to land small parties.
The judges determined that two destroyers had been put out of action and that the landing parties had been driven off with heavy losses. There have been no air attacks on Singapore yet, but the aircraft-carrier Hermes, the most important of the attacking craft, has been sighted to the east-north-east.
After an all-day search yesterday, air patrols located the destroyers heading north-west and an unknown number of submarines to the east. These dived as soon as they were sighted. In the crash of a flying-boat in the Straits of Johore yesterday, Pilot-Officer Robert Blair, aged 22, was killed but six others were rescued.
From the New Zealand Herald, 5th of February 1937:
DEFENCES INTACT
SINGAPORE MANOEUVRES
END OF MOCK BATTLE
"ENEMY'S" FINAL ATTEMPT
By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 4, 6.15 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Feb. 3
Fierce "engagements," which lasted all night, resulted in the beating; off of the "attackers" in the naval, military and air manoeuvres at Singapore, leaving the defences sorely tested, but intact. The defenders are confident that the manoeuvres are a further proof of the impregnability of the Singapore fortress.
Shortly after dawn the "enemy" made a final attempt to damage the defences by air attacks, but the end came with their withdrawing under smoke-screens, peppered by heavy guns. Prior to the final action, Red Land aircraft had attacked the aircraft-carrier Hermes before she could launch her bombers. Blue Land bombers attacked the Seletar aerodrome, while Red Land aircraft, after the attack on the Hermes, returned and landed.
A powerful concentration of British air power was made at the Singapore manoeuvres in which about 100 war aeroplanes and 20 naval craft took part. The Royal Air Force machines included a flying-boat squadron from Basrah (Irak Command), and two bomber squadrons from the India Command and two from the Irak Command.
The British overseas air commands comprise three squadrons in Palestine and Transjordania, five in the Middle East, with headquarters at Cairo, one at Aden, five in Irak and eight in India. One of the purposes of the manoeuvres was to test the efficiency of communications, and various technical sections were detailed to lay telephone wires to various "danger points" along the coast of Singapore Island, where an enemy landing might take place. Wireless and other signals units were also detailed to various assignments in readiness for the coming of the warships and fighting aeroplanes. The defences of Singapore had reached such an advanced stage of preparedness that military experts were satisfied that there was little to fear from a direct attack, providing the garrison was not taken by surprise at any point. This surprise element received the full attention of the authorities, and every precaution known to the science of modern warfare was incorporated in the defence system.
SINGAPORE MANOEUVRES
END OF MOCK BATTLE
"ENEMY'S" FINAL ATTEMPT
By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 4, 6.15 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Feb. 3
Fierce "engagements," which lasted all night, resulted in the beating; off of the "attackers" in the naval, military and air manoeuvres at Singapore, leaving the defences sorely tested, but intact. The defenders are confident that the manoeuvres are a further proof of the impregnability of the Singapore fortress.
Shortly after dawn the "enemy" made a final attempt to damage the defences by air attacks, but the end came with their withdrawing under smoke-screens, peppered by heavy guns. Prior to the final action, Red Land aircraft had attacked the aircraft-carrier Hermes before she could launch her bombers. Blue Land bombers attacked the Seletar aerodrome, while Red Land aircraft, after the attack on the Hermes, returned and landed.
A powerful concentration of British air power was made at the Singapore manoeuvres in which about 100 war aeroplanes and 20 naval craft took part. The Royal Air Force machines included a flying-boat squadron from Basrah (Irak Command), and two bomber squadrons from the India Command and two from the Irak Command.
The British overseas air commands comprise three squadrons in Palestine and Transjordania, five in the Middle East, with headquarters at Cairo, one at Aden, five in Irak and eight in India. One of the purposes of the manoeuvres was to test the efficiency of communications, and various technical sections were detailed to lay telephone wires to various "danger points" along the coast of Singapore Island, where an enemy landing might take place. Wireless and other signals units were also detailed to various assignments in readiness for the coming of the warships and fighting aeroplanes. The defences of Singapore had reached such an advanced stage of preparedness that military experts were satisfied that there was little to fear from a direct attack, providing the garrison was not taken by surprise at any point. This surprise element received the full attention of the authorities, and every precaution known to the science of modern warfare was incorporated in the defence system.
