An item referred to what Sir Herbert Russell (1) wrote in the U.S.R. dated 18 February 1937 about the manoeuvres at Singapore attended by the armed forces. The necessity of a good coordination between the forces became clear. The main conclusion was if an potential enemy wanted to capture Singapore this had to be a suddenly attack executed in peacetime. To prevent this had the defence to be strengthened. He won’t wonder if the 15 submarines now stationed at Hong Kong were to be transferred to Singapore and that even more submarines were sent. He believed certainly that Singapore could be captured by air attacks.(2)
Notes
1. Sir Herbert Henry William Russell (28 March 1869 Kensington, England-23 March 1944 Hampton, England), war correspondent in the First World War and in the 1930s author of novels and books on military matters.
2. Singapore was the major British naval base in the Far East and considered to be impregnable. At the seaside was a strong coastal defence with batteries realized. The landside was hardly defended and Japanese forces coming from the mainland [British Malaya] passing on 7 February the small Johore or Tebrau strait managed to conquer the island. The British forces surrendered on 15 February 1942.
Notes
1. Sir Herbert Henry William Russell (28 March 1869 Kensington, England-23 March 1944 Hampton, England), war correspondent in the First World War and in the 1930s author of novels and books on military matters.
2. Singapore was the major British naval base in the Far East and considered to be impregnable. At the seaside was a strong coastal defence with batteries realized. The landside was hardly defended and Japanese forces coming from the mainland [British Malaya] passing on 7 February the small Johore or Tebrau strait managed to conquer the island. The British forces surrendered on 15 February 1942.
