01 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 16 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
San Antonio Light
Location
San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
Date
Feb 01, 1942
Page
1
A letter-writer laments WWII wartime reporting and governance. It criticizes commissions probing Pearl Harbor anxiously, alleging political bias and scapegoating. The piece argues patriotic pilots sacrificed lives while political investigations avoid blame, urging accountability and honesty in public inquiry.
British Far East command reports a direct siege of Singapore begun tonight after all imperial troops withdrew from Malaya to the 217 square mile island. Lieut. General Percival vows to root out the enemy, amid fears of fifth column activity as 750,000 residents rally to defend the vital fortress. Singapore’s garrison, a mix of British Avatakians and Indian troops, prepares inch by inch defense with Churchill promising victory. The withdrawal follows rapid Japanese advance on three roads from Malaya, while the causeway to the mainland has linked the island to the Malay peninsula by a narrow waterway. The battle’s outcome will shape Pacific war dynamics and defense of India and Australia.
A precautionary blackout was ordered for Port Aransas, Aransas Pass and Ingleside after a suspected enemy submarine sighting near the coast. The mainland city lies near the coastal inlet between islands where the sighting occurred on Wednesday.
Washington dispatch reports that tens of thousands of motorists failing to display 12.09 use tax stamps face penalties of 26 dollars or 30 days in jail, or both. Drivers with unstampd cars incur a 25 dollar fine. owners with unstamped vehicles may receive both fine and jail time. Tax officials warn that inspectors will enforce stamp laws nationwide tomorrow as a watch-cost for cars even with stamps.
A dated communique proclaims Japanese troops in full retreat toward Nippanese peopled Ganton after a five day engagement. Chinese forces claim a crushing defeat in the Waichow sector eighty miles east of Canton with pursuit toward Sheklung and Kowloon on the railroad line between Canton and Kowloon.
British command acknowledged the loss of Moulmein in Burma as imperial troops retreated across the Salween River amid violent Japanese attacks. Thai-supported Japanese forces advanced toward Martaban, threatening Rangoon’s strategic gateway to China and India while Imperial troops pulled back to defensible positions along the river. NBC cited a Chinese broadcast claiming strict control over Burma coach trucks, with thousands of trucks daily and tens of thousands of tons moved toward Kunming. A separate report notes a secret Japanese postal distribution network was shut down by police in Bahia state, Brazil.
General Douglas MacArthur's forces beat back Japanese assaults in Luzon and captured prisoners, disrupting Tokyo's plan for a large Luzon offensive. News from the Batan peninsula reports sporadic fighting and Japanese attempts at infiltration thwarted, while leaflets urging surrender were ridiculed by American and Filipino troops.
Tokyo reports that a Thursday attack by Japanese planes on Singapore island destroyed hangars and landing fields and destroyed seven planes. Two British aircraft are said to have been shot down in the dog fight.
Robert Stanford Tuck, 24, a noted RAF ace, is reported a German prisoner of war after his Spitfire went down near Boulogne. He had claimed 29 enemy aircraft destroyed and displayed 20 swastikas on his fuselage. The signal notes he previously visited U.S. bases to share combat lessons with American pilots.
Melbourne dispatch reports a United Nations convoy escaped a planned attack by Japanese planes as a terrific rainstorm broke, scattering the air raid. The storm foiled the attempt as ships, troops, and planes were evacuated from danger.
A major Japanese assault on Ambon Island targets the second largest Netherlands East Indies naval and air base. Dutch defenses fight fires as ships and aircraft shell and bomb the island in a widening campaign to sever sea routes to Australia. Reports confirm air attacks, coastal bombardments, and a Netherlands Indies naval depth-charge victory against a Japanese submarine while German internees suffer casualties in the wider war zone.
The piece urges urgent civilian defense action in San Antonio, criticizing Los Angeles plans compared with Texas cities. It calls for a full time, war and defense expert to lead, suggesting Maj. Gen. John S. Preston or an equal caliber as head immediately.
New Zealand requests immediate appointment of an American admiral as supreme commander of all United Nations forces fighting in the Pacific. Prime Minister Nash says a single unified command is essential and proposes a Washington council to direct strategy against Japan. He cites strong resources and morale as key to victory.
A proclamation by Mayor C. K. Quit directs residents of San Antonio Springs to set clocks back at 2 00 on a designated day. The proclamation urges compliance with the order and notes penalties for failure to adjust clocks forward by February 9.
A Red Cross hospital ship named Mactan arrived in Sydney carrying nearly 200 wounded men from General MacArthur's Philippine forces. Davis, Red Cross chairman, announced the wounded were being satisfactorily cared for and that the ship had received safe conduct authorities.
SEATTLE Wash dan 21 The 13th naval district warned of a possible early Japanese attack in force on West coast shipping and urged Pacific coast residents to stay alert. The alert cited enemy submarine sightings off the southern California coast and noted Russian cargo ships reaching Northwent in the past week. About 7400 taxpayers filed receipts Saturday bringing the 1943 total to 64 922, up from last election year, with daily receipts about 2607.
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.