16 Feb 1942
Page 1
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 15 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Canberra Times
Location
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Date
Feb 16, 1942
Page
1
New York radio reports General Percival and Lieutenant General Yamashita signed surrender terms, ending all fighting on Singapore at 7 p m. Conflicting messages describe British forces signaling surrender to Japanese Army Headquarters.
Fragmented wartime dispatches describe British and Australian forces repelling Japanese attacks around Singapore. Communiques note counterattacks by Allied troops including Australians, Indians, and locals, while heavy bombardment and shelling disrupt supply routes and local defenses. A small Australian warship evacuated hundreds of survivors from the water as combat continued along coastal positions and the Johore causeway remained contested.
Reuters dispatch from Rangoon reports heavy fighting in Burma after Japanese thrust across the Balween River. British Indian forces and Burmese troops reportedly strike back near Martaban and Sulwean, linking with reinforcements landed from the east. Units resist fierce Japanese pressure as fighting spreads toward Thaton with strong but outnumbered allied forces.
A heavy air strike by American planes and Allied forces hit a Japanese concentration near Pean on the road to Thaton. Thousands of pounds of fragmentation bombs were dropped from tree-top level. All planes returned.
Allied air activity and ground pounding continue on the East Burma front after two daylight operations in the Paan area. British and American pilots bomb Japanese positions while reports say a second Salween River crossing may have been repelled and Japanese cavalry are reduced by Allied bombardment.
War bulletin describes Japanese forces dropping parachute troops and air drops around Palembang, Sumatra, with surface combat and significant resistance. It notes Palembang, a key oil supplier, faced a bold assault as the Japanese press toward the city after losses at Balikpapan and Tarakan.
A garbled brief suggests a 20th century dispute over a Pacific defence base with references to the Netherlands and Japan. The text mentions New York Times attribution and a minister, but the meaning is largely unclear.
Fragmented text from a French buildings fire report notes widespread damage. Vichy radio cites officials, mentioning Abergele and various alleys. Details are unclear due to garbled OCR.
A wartime dispatch outlines a reorganized Pacific command. Admiral Helfrich heads all Allied naval forces in the area with Commodore J A Collins commanding British Australian forces. Admiral Glasaord leads the United States, while Cone and Grumfort report to Helfrich. Major General Morris gains full control of military forces in Papua. Immediate renovation of New Guinea defences is ordered.
A Moscow communique says two days of fighting on the Leningrad front cost Germany 1800 officers and men killed and many prisoners, with loss of material and a wireless station. Russian dive bombers attacked a German aerodrome on the Karelian Front destroying four Messerschmitts, one Junkers Renault and five Dar racks. Guerillas operating at Ostachov killed nearly 600 men and blew up five railway bridges.
An interwar era report warns that Nazi warships prowling the Atlantic threaten Allied supply lines. Officials in London and Washington discuss the risk of raiders and U-boats near key ports. The commentary emphasizes civilian defense and the need for vigilance as German ships maneuver during the Atlantic theater.
In scattered speeches across England commissioners and politicians debate Germanys actions and the fleets response. Admiral Chatfield laments an old navy and calls for stronger air and sea coordination while Lord Bir Roger stresses naval control of air power and rapid development. Amery criticizes German moves as bold but asks unity and preparedness for future threats.
Fragmentary OCR notes describe America’s third draft registration during wartime. It references nearly seven million men between twenty and thirty obligated to register, with dates and locations poorly captured. The text mentions prior registrations in October and July, and a crater or line of duty phrase emphasizing wartime mobilization.
London dispatch reports Spain considering sending a division to confront Germany if danger to Europe intensifies. General Franco hints at mobilization as Spain weighs involvement, with widespread support among political factions for action against Germany and Russia.
In London a Vichy report says a men army joined the anti Belshevik line heading to the eastern front. The details are fragmentary with unclear locations and names, but the note mentions volunteers and a push toward the front, reflecting wartime alignments and recruitment efforts.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.