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Test. To give the British Far East defenses the most thorough possible test, there ended last week the greatest maneuvers Singapore has ever seen. Twenty-five warships, including the aircraft carrier Eagle which has been continuously exercising about the numerous China Sea islands lately, and three escort vessels of the Royal Indian Navy formed the attacking force under Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Ramsay. Ten thousand troops, mostly heavy artillerymen, and no planes formed the defense under the military commander of Malaya, Major General W. G. S. Dobbie, who has his son for his aide-de-camp, fills his War Office reports with biblical quotations, and holds weekly Bible classes for his staff. No reporters or photographers were allowed to see much of what happened during the next four days. They reclined in a comfortable press room in Singapore where twice daily Army officers handed out official reports of what had been going on, and bundles of censored photographs, taken by Army photographers. On the fourth day, as the maneuvers came to an end, the city prepared for a simulated air raid that was to black out every street lamp in Singapore.
* Subject to innumerable variations, the Singapore Gin Sling is basically a Tom Collins spiked with cherry brandy.