James L. Feldkamp Silver Perspective Programs

Silver Perspective Programs
James L. Feldkamp

 3rd Century: Transcription of Singapura's early Malay name Pulau Ujong,
considered first recording of existence of Singapore
 14th Century: Changed name to Singapura
 Claimed by Siamese and Javanese
 Controlled by Sultanate of Malacca in 15th century
 Controlled by Sultanate of Johor during 16th century
1509: Arrival of Portuguese in Malacca
 16th - 19th centuries, Malay Archipelago was gradually taken over by
European colonial powers
 Dominance of Portuguese was challenged during the 17th century by Dutch,
who came to control most of ports in the region
 Dutch established a monopoly over trade within the archipelago
 Spice wars: Region's most important product (Nathaniel’s Nutmeg)
Singapore History

 Sir Stamford Raffles: Determined that Great Britain should replace Dutch
as the dominant power in the region
 Look to establish a new port along the Straits of Malacca
January 28, 1819: Raffles makes landfall near tip of Malay Peninsula near
the Straits of Malacca
 Possessed a deep harbor, fresh water, and timber for repairing ships
 Located along the main trade route between India and China
 Established a trading post on the island for the British East India Co.
 Sultan Hussein granted British rights to establish trading post
 Formal treaty signed: February 6, 1819
 Modern Singapore was born
Singapore History

Singapore History
 Singapore became a free port
 Bugis, Peranakan Chinese, and Arab traders flocked to circumvent
Dutch trade restrictions
1819: $400,000 (Sp. dollars) worth of trade passed through Singapore
 Raffles returned in 1822 and drafted new policies; banning of slavery,
closing of gambling dens, prohibition of weapons, and heavy taxation to
discourage social vices such as drunkenness and opium-smoking
 Sultan ceded, in perpetuity, to the East India Company administrative
rights for monthly payments of $1500
 Brought the island under the British Law
 Proviso: Take into account Malay customs, traditions and religion
October 1823: Raffles departs for Britain never to return (died in 1826)

 Government address serious social problems facing Singapore
 Chinese Protectorate established in 1877
 Controlling the worst abuses of the coolie trade
 Protecting Chinese women from forced prostitution
 Post WWI, British built naval base in Singapore to deter the Japanese
 1939: $500 million, naval base had the largest dry dock in the world
 Third-largest floating dock
 Enough fuel tanks to support the entire British navy for six months
 Defended by heavy 15-inch naval guns and by RAF squadrons stationed at
Tengah Air Base, Winston Churchill touted it as the "Gibraltar of the East."
Singapore History
April 1, 1867 established as Crown Colony

Fall of Singapore
(Gibraltar of the Far East)

Protagonists
Emperor Hirohito Prime Minister Winston Churchill General Yamashita
Lieutenant General Percival

Overture
 1930’s Japan was looking to expand its influence in the Far East
 Allies tried to halt Japanese campaigns in China by imposing sanctions
 Actions were effective, oil reserves in the Empire were soon depleted
 Japanese had to do something to secure their vital resources
 Invasion of oil-rich Borneo and Java in the Dutch East Indies
 Plans were created to attack Great Britain and the United States interests
 Attacks would provided way for invasion of Dutch East Indies
 Singapore (aka ‘Gibraltar of the Far East’): Key to British defense in Asia
 Without Singapore, Britain’s possessions would be vulnerable
 British believed Japanese army inferior and only capable of defeating
the backward Chinese

Singapore Strategy
Aimed to deter aggression by the Empire of Japan
 Naval defense policy (1919-1941)
 Well-equipped base; Singapore (1919)
 Defeat Japanese force heading south
towards India or Australia
 British war with Japan (3 phases)
 Garrison: Defends Singapore
 Sail to relieve or recapture Hong Kong
 Blockade islands to force Japan to
accept terms
 Invading Japan rejected (impractical)
 Did not expect Japanese would fight
a naval battle against the odds
 Impact of blockade on Japan at heart
of a maritime empire would force
terms

Japanese Strategy
 Landings in Hong Kong, and Malaya to
move south to secure Singapore
 Connected to Malaya by the Johor–
Singapore Causeway
 Following attacks: Consolidate and build up
defenses of captured territory - establishing
a strong perimeter:
 Stretching from the India–Burma
frontier through to Wake Island, and
traversing Malaya, the Dutch East
Indies, New Guinea and New Britain,
the Bismarck Archipelago, and the
Marshall and Gilbert Islands
 Intended to block Allied attempts to
regain lost territory and defeat their will
to fight

Greater East Asia Co-
Prosperity Sphere

Greater East Asia
Co-Prosperity Sphere
 Concept created and promulgated by Empire of Japan occupied Asian
populations from 1930 to 1945
 Intention to create a self-sufficient "bloc of Asian nations led by the
Japanese and free of Western powers."
 Policy and majority of Japanese population, largely saw it for its pan-Asian
ideals of freedom and independence from Western colonial oppression
 Militarists and nationalists saw it as effective policy:
 Strengthen Japan's position
 Advance dominance
 Promoted ideal of Japanese superiority over other Asians

Prelude to War
Nov 1940: German Atlantis captured British steamer Automedon in I.O.
 Reports for Air Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, British
Commander Far East detailed weakness of Singapore
 Dec 1940: Germans handed papers to the Japanese
Jan 1941: Imperial Army broke British codes, intercepted and interpreted
message from Singapore to London complaining about weak state of
“Fortress Singapore”
 Japanese first suspected it was a British plant, believing that no officer
would be so open in admitting weaknesses to his superiors
 Only believed it was genuine after cross-checking the message with the
Automedon papers

Invasion of Thailand
23:00: 7 December, Japanese presented Thai government ultimatum to allow
the Japanese military to enter Thailand (2 hours to respond).
8 December 1941: Japan invaded the Kingdom of Thailand
 Fighting lasted only five hours before ending in a ceasefire
 Japan bombed Bangkok with one bomb (main post office, dud)
 Prime minister Phibun Songkhram relented into Japan's demands
 Britain declares war on Japanese Empire: 8th December 1941
 HMS ‘Prince of Wales’ and the cruiser ‘Repulse’ put to sea from Singapore

Disaster
December 1941: Japanese established complete air and naval dominance
10 Dec: British capital ships HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse sunk
 Crushing blow to British forces, and British morale back home
 Malaya exposed: Japan was able to continue their landings unopposed
20 Dec: All British air bases in northern Malaya captured
 Only army could now stop the invasion
 Japan advanced down both west and east coasts of Malayan peninsula
 Overcame Australian and Indian troops in Johore
30 Jan 1942: British retreat to Singapore Island
 Most naval guns on Singapore island could turn landwards
o However, guns were designed to attack ships not ground targets
o Ammunition not high explosive or fragmentation shells

Campaign in Malay
 Lieutenant General Percival:
 90,000 men to defend Singapore (majority never seen combat)
 Japanese forces led by General Yamashita (aka Tiger of Malay)
 65,000 men (Combat hardened, fought in Manchuria)
 Moved swiftly on foot and stolen bicycles
 Japanese were ferocious - Allies were shocked by the brutality
 Singapore was ready to repel attacks by sea
 British were surprised when Japanese attacked overland
 Allies believed that the Malayan jungles were impassable
 Japanese aircraft attacked Singapore airfields
o Destroyed most of RAF’s frontline planes - leaving island with no
air defense
12 Dec 1941: Fall of Jitra, British forces retreated towards Singapore
11 Jan 1942: Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaya, falls

 Feb 1942: British and Australian troops crossed and destroyed causeway
which separated Singapore from Malaya (delayed Japanese by 9 days)
 Churchill ordered: Strong defense should be put up and surrender not to
be considered until there had been ‘protracted fighting’ to try to save city
 Percival believed Japanese would attack Singapore across the Johor Strait;
but unsure of where attack might come
 Percival position his men to defend entire coastline (some 70 miles)
 Spread too thinly to adequately defend any one section of the line.
8 Feb 1942: Attack commenced many of the defenders were too far away to
influence the battle
 23,000 Japanese attacked with surprising speed and ferocity
Defense of Singapore

Churchill’s Cable 10 Feb 1942: Churchill sent a cable
‘I think you ought to realise the way we view
the situation in Singapore. It was reported to
Cabinet by the C.I.G.S. [Chief of the Imperial
General Staff, General Alan Brooke] that
Percival has over 100,000 men, of whom
33,000 are British and 17,000 Australian. It is
doubtful whether the Japanese have as many
in the whole Malay Peninsula … In these
circumstances the defenders must greatly
outnumber Japanese forces who have crossed
the straits, and in a well-contested battle they
should destroy them. There must at this stage
be no thought of saving the troops or sparing
the population. The battle must be fought
to the bitter end at all costs. The 18th
Division has a chance to make its name in
history. Commanders and senior officers
should die with their troops. The honour of the
British Empire and of the British Army is at
stake.
I rely on you to show no mercy to weakness in
any form.’

Swan Song
Fall of Singapore during WWII
 British commander, Lieutenant General Arthur Percival
 Misjudged Japanese intentions
 Japanese attacked north-west of the island, overcoming Australian
resistance, Japanese drove through center of the island towards
Singapore Town and Keppel Harbour
 Percival’s deployments did not allow for a counterattack
 Percival hesitated to commit his reserves from other parts of the island
 Bennett: Prematurely issued orders for withdrawal from the defensive
Jurong Line, which might have been held longer
15 Feb 1942: Singapore’s water supply captured, ammunition low and civilian
casualties mounting, Percival decided to surrender

“Worst disaster"
in British military
history
~ Winston Churchill
 Percival surrendered 17:15
 Largest surrender in British history
 British, Australian, and Indian
soldiers were taken prisoner
 Many die in Changi Prison
 Majority were shipped out to work as
forced labor for the Japanese
o Some in Japan
o Some on Sandakan airfield
o Thousands on Burma railway
(around 9% died)

Strategic Reality
 Churchill’s relegation of Malaya to a low
priority reflected strategic reality
 Britain could not wage war simultaneously
against Germany, Italy and Japan
 Singapore was simply beyond Allied logistics
 Priority: Middle East and aid to Russia
 Australian Government warned Churchill that
evacuation of Singapore would be regarded as
‘an inexcusable betrayal’.
 Surrender of Singapore
 80,000 Allied troops were captured
 General Percival – spent 3 years as POW
 General Bennett; Escaped, expertise needed
fighting the Japanese - needed in Australia!
 Never held field command again

Lesson’s Learned
 Prewar British experts discounted the Japanese on racist grounds
 HUGE mistake
 Singapore had been considered an impregnable bastion
 Largely mythical: Penny-pinching left Singapore a Potemkin fortress
 With a garrison of 90,000 men, Singapore was expected to hold out
 Much of the disaster was incomprehensible, rather than inevitable
 RAF pilots, cocky from victory over Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain,
were outmatched by better-trained Japanese pilots and Zero fighters
 Japanese force that landed on Malay Peninsula north of Singapore on
December 8 was smaller than that of the defenders, but it
outmaneuvered and outfought British, Australian and Indian troops.
 Yamashita: Outnumbered 3:1 and conducted a water assault across the
straits separating Singapore from Malay
 Yamashita: Considered retreat because he was almost out of ammunition

Things to Do!
(Or… What I am Going to Do)

Singapore Flyer
 Largest in world 30 meters
higher that London Eye
Gardens by the Bay
Marina Bay
Read more at:
http://www.singapore-guide.com

Raffles Hotel
China Town
Universal Studio’s
Read more at: http://www.singapore-guide.com

 Nightlife in Clarke Quay is the party
hub of Singapore
 Bar Cocoon or Bamboo Bar
“The Forbidden City”
 Bar Opiume at Empress Place
Read more at:
http://www.singapore-guide.com
Night Life

Cultural Note(s)
 No littering, no chewing gum, no illegal drugs, no pornographic material,
no weapons, no jaywalking, no spitting and no smoking in public places
 Cleanliness and order is strictly enforced
 Trash collection occurs seven days a week and there are heavy fines for
littering. Even the harbor is refuse-free and generally devoid of oil
slicks
 Singapore briefly joined with newly independent Indonesia in 1963 and left
in 1965 to become its own independent city state
 In Singapore (and SEA), Muslim traders introduced Islam peacefully
Some believe this distinction yields a gentler less rigorous type of Islam

Cultural Note(s)
 Malay are generally Muslim. Traditionally, there is no physical contact
between men and women
 Indians are Hindu – they avoid public contact between men an women
although not as vehemently as most Muslims Only westernized Hindus
will shake hands wit the opposite sex
 Traditional Indian greeting involves a slight bow with the palms of the
hands together(as if praying) called the namaste
 Cultural note: Westerners sometimes interpret failure to make eye contact
as evidence of untrustworthiness. ON the contrary, in Singapore, sustained
eye contact is considered hostile and threatening

Useless Male Trivia I
 Exchange rate: $1 dollar = 1.37 SGD
 Sang Nila Utama, prince of Palembang, saw a creature he thought was a
lion and named island “Singapura” which means “Lion City” in Sanskrit
 No lions outside of captivity in Singapore (Merlion statue)
 Red of Singapore’s flag:
 Red represents universal brotherhood and equality of man
 White symbolizes purity and virtue
 Crescent moon stands for a young nation on the rise
 Five stars signify ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and
equality
 Singapore’s national anthem is in micro-text on back of their $1,000 note
 Singapore is one of only three surviving city-states in the world
 Monaco
 Vatican City

Useless Male Trivia II
 Only military event during World War I was a 1915 mutiny by British
Muslim Indian sepoys garrisoned in Singapore.
 Heard rumors to send them to fight the Ottoman Empire
 Soldiers revolted, killing their officers and several British civilians
before troops arriving from Johor and Burma suppressed the unrest
 Singapore’s Bukit Timah Nature Reserve holds more species of trees than
the entire North American continent.
 Guinness book record for the longest human domino chain was set in
Singapore on September 30, 2000
 Formed by 9,234 students and measured 4.2km
 National language of Singapore is Malay.
 4 official languages: English, Chinese, Tamil, and Malay
 English is language of instruction, business, and government.
 Taxis are really good there just make sure they use their meters!

Bow, Kiss or Shake Hands
• History: Singapore was annexed by the British in 1819. British rule was to last some 120 years and gave
the island British legal traditions and the English language. During WWII the Japanese occupied
Singapore from 1942 to 1945. After the war Singapore became a Brits crown colony, but he power of the
British Empire was fading.
– Singapore's first election was held in 1959. The Peoples Action party (PAP) took the election and has remained in
power ever since. The first prime minister was Cambridge-educated Lee Kuan Yew. Singapore experienced
tremendous develop me under Le and the PAP.
• Singapore joined the Malayan federation in 1963 but it seceded just two year later. Since 196 it has been a
separate, sovereign nation and a member of the British commonwealth.
• Many did not believe that Singapore could survive as an independent country. The tiny island had no
natural resources aside from it s harbor and no way to defend itself against populous and often aggressive
neighbors. Realizing that Singapore's people were its greatest national asset, Prim Minister Lee Kuan
Yew’s govern embarked upon social engineering on a grand scale. The people would be educated, and
capitalism could be encouraged. Old traditions were suppressed, and Singapore was turned into a true
meritocracy.
• No aspect of life was considered beyond the reach of the government. The “3-S Plan” of Social
responsibility, social attitude, a Nd skill became an official credo. Citizens were constantly reminded of
the threat from Singapore's populous neighbors, and internal dissent was silenced. Tiny Singapore built
up defense forces wit the most up-to-date- technology in the world. However, opponents of the
government were sometime sailed without trail; overly cortical foreign journalists were deported and an
publication that employed such a journalist was liable to be banned from sale in Singapore.
• Thankfully, Singapore we spared series damage in the disastrous Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. Singapore
has also mad progress in tis various long-term disputes with neighboring Malaysia.

December 1941
 Performance of Australian troops in Singapore was not faultless.
 contemporary reports claimed that Australians were guilty of looting, left their lines
too early, and crowded the wharves of Singapore in a desperate effort to escape.
Sometimes Australians were described as daffodils: beautiful to look at but yellow
all through. There were even reports of rapes by Australians in Malaya.
 A secret British report documenting this purported indiscipline was released in
1993, and many came to the Anzacs’ defence: the Second Australian Imperial
Force’s (Second AIF) 8th Division, it was argued, suffered disproportionately high
casualties (10% dead); by February 1942 its units included several thousand barely
trained reinforcements; and Australians lacked air cover and were subjected to
heavy artillery bombardment in the final battle for Singapore.
 In early 1942 Singapore Island was simply beyond the reach of Allied logistics. Its
survival had always depended on the successful defense of Malaya. This, in turn,
was contingent upon the British reinforcing Malaya rather than, as Churchill
decided to do in 1940-41, giving priority to the Middle East and aid to Russia.
 The Australian Government chose in late January 1942 to warn Churchill that the
evacuation of Singapore would be regarded as ‘an inexcusable betrayal’.
 Churchill’s relegation of Malaya to a low priority reflected an implacable strategic
reality. After the fall of France in June 1940, Britain could not hope to wage war

Invasion Singapore
 November 6, 1941, Lieutenant General Tomoyuki Yamashita assumes
command of the 25th Army at its Saigon head quarters in Japanese-
occupied French Indochina.
 Japan’s leaders have decided that in three weeks the country will go to war
against the Western powers, and 25th Army will play a vital role in the
opening war offensive.
 Japan’s strategy will be to “strike south” and attempt to seize a vast,
resource-rich area in Southeast Asia (principally British Malaya and the
Dutch East Indies) to exploit its raw materials (oil, rubber, etc.), which
Japan needs for industry and the Japanese war machine.
 To accomplish this goal, on December 8 (December 7 in Hawaii) Japan will
simultaneously launch two major operations: a carrier-based airstrike by
the Imperial Japanese Navy Fleet aimed at neutralizing the U.S. Pacific
Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and
 an invasion by 25th Army targeting British Malaya, including Singapore,

Invasion Singapore
 25TH Army
 Four divisions
• Imperial Guards Division,
» Although guardsmen are specially selected for their more
robust physiques, they are actually trained for ceremonial
duties. The unit has not seen fighting since the 1904-05 Russo-
Japanese War, and thus its combat effectiveness remains
unknown until it is committed to battle.
• 5th, 18th and 56th divisions consist of well-trained soldiers,
including many who have experienced combat in the war in China
that began in 1937. Both divisions were selected for this operation
because of their exceptional esprit de corps compared to that of
other Japanese units fighting in China.
• Other forces under the control of 25th Army include
– 3d Tank Brigade, (80 light and medium tanks);
– 2 heavy field artillery regiments with a total of 400 guns and
mortars;
– Plus engineers, signals units, a railroad detachment and supply

Invasion Singapore
 British Forces
 British Army Malaya Command, led by Lieutenant General Arthur Percival
• Principal combat units are III Corps, composed of;
– 9th and 11th Indian divisions,
– 8th Australian Division, for a total of about 89,000 troops.
– Also has three Indian, two British and two Malay Volunteers brigades in
reserve, bringing Malaya Command’s strength to 120,000.
 Weapons include;
 Singapore’s heavy fortress guns,
 150 anti-aircraft guns, 200 anti-tank guns, and 550 artillery guns and
mortars.
 Malaya Command has 250 armored cars, it has no tanks since British
commanders consider the jungle terrain unsuitable for armored operations.
 Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft are
outdated and greatly outnumbered, consisting of 100 inferior Brewster
“Buffalo” fighters, 130 obsolete bombers and 50 reconnaissance planes.

 Japanese infantry used bicycles to devastating effect in their drive
down the Malayan peninsula. Bicycles allowed Japanese soldiers to
move quickly to the front (or past it) with less exhaustion than
marching. Bicycles required no fuel. Rivers and jungle impassable
to vehicles could be crossed by dismounted bicycle infantry.
 The rough terrain sometimes damaged their rubber tires; when this
happened, they kept riding on their metal rims. Some British
soldiers mistook the sound of bare-rimmed bikes in the distance for
tanks.

Malayan Campaign
Dec. 8 1941 – Jan. 31 1942
 Tanks
• Japanese tanks were not of exceptional quality or used with
particular imagination. However, the Japanese employed 300 tanks
in the Malayan Campaign. The British had none.
• The British also had few anti-tank guns and little ammunition for
them. Most British infantry had no way of combating tanks unless
they came very close.
• British commanders claimed that the jungle was too thick for tanks,
but the Japanese made good use of roads in Malaya and Singapore.

Malayan Campaign
 General Percival thought that Singapore would be invaded from the sea.
 Spread his troops around the island to try and protect the entire coast from invasion.
 Like Hong Kong; Japanese invaded (at night) from the northern mainland.
 February 8, General Yamashita’s 25th Army crossed the Straits of Johore.
 Though the Japanese were greatly outnumbered, the defenders were spread so thin that
they were easily surrounded and destroyed.
 Fighting continued for seven days in a manner similar to the Malayan campaign.
 Small British units were quickly overwhelmed by fast-moving Japanese troops,
defenseless against Japanese tanks, and at the mercy of Japanese aircraft

The End
Fall of Singapore
during WWII
 Percival formally surrendered at 17.15. This was the largest
surrender of forces led by the British in history
 100,000 Allied men (British, Australian, and Indian)
were taken prisoner when Singapore fell.
 Number of the prisoners were held in Changi Prison
where many of them died
 Vast majority were shipped out to work as forced labor
for the Japanese
o some in Japan
o some on the Sandakan airfield
o Thousands on the Burma railway (around 9,000,
or 9% of those taken prisoner, died on the
railway)
 Large percentage of the population of Singapore was of Chinese
descent and many of these people were massacred by the
victorious invaders.
 No one knows how many civilians were killed, the
Chinese of Singapore said it was 50,000 although the
Japanese said it was closer to 5,000 (historians
believe this estimate to be too low, based on the
actions of the Japanese in places like Nanking, and
the true figure will never be known).

The Protagonists
Lieutenant General PercivalGeneral Yamashita
Emperor Hirohito Prime Minister
Winston Churchill

Malayan Campaign
 The guns of Singapore were famous even before the war. Among
them were five 15-inch guns, whose shells made craters in the
ground 15 feet deep and 50 feet wide. The guns were intended for
firing on warships, though they did bombard the Japanese 25th
Army during the battle. They were supplied mostly with armor-
piercing shells that did little damage to enemy infantry (apart from
a direct hit). The guns had little effect, though their thunderous
discharges could be heard miles away, encouraging British soldiers

Overture
14 Feb 1942: Japanese broke through part of the Allied defenses and advanced
towards the Alexandra Barracks Hospital
 The staff there could see no hope of rescue and decided to surrender,
sending a British lieutenant with a white flag to talk to the Japanese; he was
bayonetted to death.
 Japanese troops then entered the hospital and immediately killed
around 50 patients, some of whom were lying on the operating table;
doctors and nurses were also murdered. The following day about 200
male staff members and patients (many of them walking wounded),
were taken to a nearby industrial area where they were murdered. A
small number of the men survived by playing dead and were able to
report this atrocity at the end of the war.
15 Feb 1942: Allies were almost out of food and ammunition. There was a
heated conference of the senior commanders who reluctantly agreed that there
was no hope of victory and the garrison should capitulate.

Aftermath
 Surrender of the British forces in Singapore showed, despite expectations,
the Japanese army would be a major player during the war.
 British forces had planned to liberate Singapore in 1945 but the
war ended before they could carry out their attack
 Japanese surrendered unconditionally in September 1945 and British,
Indian, and Australian forces moved back into Malaya and Singapore
 Japanese commander, General Yamashita was tried by a US military
commission for war crimes; convicted and hanged in P.I. 23 February
1946

Japanese Invasion Routs
Malaya Peninsula

Surrender of Singapore
The Conversation
 February 15, Percival surrendered to Yamashita, and famously dithered…
– Yamashita: “Are you willing to surrender? Yes or no?”
 Percival: “Would you give me until tomorrow morning?”
– Yamashita: “Tomorrow? Absolutely not. Otherwise, Japanese troops will
carry out a night attack. Do you understand?”
 Percival: “Could you wait till eleven thirty tonight?”
– Yamashita: “Eleven thirty? We might well engage in an attack before that
time.”
 Percival: (no answer)
– Yamashita: “Do you accept the proposition? Let me ask you. Will you
accept unconditional surrender, yes or no?”
 Percival: “Yes.”

Malayan Campaign
 The Japanese achieved air superiority in Malaya in a matter of days. Their
fighter aircraft, including the famous “Zero,” were higher in quality and
number than the obsolete planes sent by the British government to Malaya.
 British airfields lacked sufficient anti-aircraft weaponry and many
fighters were destroyed on the ground by Japanese bombers.
 Control of the air meant Japan could easily harass British troops on the
ground with strafing and bombing runs.
 The battleship Prince of Wales and battle Cruiser Repulse were sunk by
Japanese bombers on December 10, 1941. The British Eastern Fleet
withdrew to Java, leaving Singapore with no naval force.

At 100 years old, the world's oldest billionaire would be forgiven for taking it easy and enjoying the
riches of his eight-decade career.
But for Chang Yun Chung, founder of Pacific International Lines (PIL), staying at home isn't an option.
Despite handing over the role of executive chairman to his son, Teo Siong Seng, earlier this year, the centenarian Singaporean insists
on going into the office every day.
"It's my habit," Chang told CNBC in a recent episode of "Managing Asia."
As chairman emeritus of PIL — a title honoring his contribution to the 51-year-old company —
Chang said he visits the firm's Singapore headquarters daily to run through its operations and check
in with every department.
"I cannot stay at home. (I'd get) very, very bored." -Chang Yun Chung, founder of Pacific International
Lines
"Every day, I write down all my activities in my diary, everything," said Chang. "Every department comes
to see me."
For him, it's a way of keeping his mind active and staying in touch with the company he set up in 1967
with two second-hand ships.
"I cannot stay at home," said the self-made billionaire. "(I'd get) very, very bored."
But routine is just part of it. Chang is also guiding Teo as he assumes greater responsibility for what is
one of the world's top 20 shipping companies and its 18,000 employees. Teo said he consults with his
father twice a day — once in the morning and once after lunch — to gain his insights and learn more about
his leadership style.
Lessons in leadership
That mentoring has proven vital to Teo as he's risen up the ranks at PIL, particularly with regard to managing his temper in high pressure situations
"When I was younger, I was more bad-tempered, so I was more (of) a hard leader," said Teo. "But my father
taught me one thing, in Chinese, it's 'yi de fu ren' — that means you want people to obey you, not because of
your authority, not because of your power, or because you are fierce, but more because of your integrity, your
quality, that people actually respect you and listen to you."
"So, 'yi de fu ren' is a very difficult thing to do, but I think I'm slowly learning it."
"Staying calm is something that I learnt from him and I'm still learning from him." -Teo Siong Seng, Executive
chairman of Pacific International Lines
That proved especially important in 2009 when, as managing director, Teo had to manage the hijacking of one
of the company's vessels by pirates off the coast of East Africa. It took 75 days and an undisclosed sum to
eventually secure the crew's release.
"In any business, especially shipping, there's a lot of unknown," said Teo. "There can be political (issues),
there can be technical issues, there can be accidents. It doesn't help losing your temper and getting all worked
up. So staying calm is something that I learnt from him and I'm still learning from him."
For Chang's part, it's that mentality that has perhaps kept him happy in his role for so long.
"I never lose my temper," he said. "(I) cannot. When you lose your temper, you just cannot control yourself."

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