JAPANESE EXPANSION

On 7 December 1941,the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour in Hawaii.  On 8 December 1941, America, China and Britain declared war on Japan.  Thus the Pacific War had begun.

However the Japanese started their expansionists policy as early as October 1941.Starting first in Southern Indochina m they moved down like a swarm of killer bees to Patani (in Southern Thailand) , and soon progressed down to the Malay Peninsula from Kota Bahru to Kuala Lumpur and finally to Johor Bahru.   By 31^st January 1942,the whole of Malaya had fallen into the Japanese clutch.

Singapore was then regarded as an "impregnable fortress".  But as the Japanese progressed in their march to victory in Malaya. The possibility of an attack on Singapore became real.   The battle-ships "Prince of Wales" and "Repulse" arrived on 2 December 1941.   

Indian, Australian and more British troops arrived to strengthen the defence of Singapore.  As for any seward invasion, the naval defence inclueded heavy 15-inch guns and a naval base at the south of the island.  

Yet the Japanese bombing of Singapore during the pre-dawn hours of 8 December 1941 took the people and the British by surprise.   Two days later, the 2 British battleships were sunk off Kuantan and the Japanese forces charged across the Causeway.   Yet all this while the British had expected attacks on ,and had increased defence of the south.  The situation looked hopeless for the British in Singapore, and the Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival, Commander of the Royal Army surrendered on 15 February 1942.   Black Sunday, the first day of the Chinese New Year.   Yet unknown to the British, the Japanese were numerically fewer than the British and would not be able to be involved in the drawn-out affair.

(Source: lecture notes)