Fortress

<p><strong>Fortress: The Story of the Siege and Fall of Singapore</strong> first published in 1960 (and also known as <em>The Singapore Story</em>) is the sobering account of the failed defense of Singapore in late 1941 and early 1942 against the advancing Japanese Army. Included are 14 pages of maps and photographs. <em>From the dustjacket: </em>Fortress recreates in vivid detail the fall of Singapore in World War II - the unforgettable atmosphere of chaos misunderstanding panic bombings evacuation of civilians ill-trained troops the invasion of Japanese troops and the beginnings of tortures as the Fortress fell. Here is an engrossing analysis of the Singapore defeat - in strategy caused by the failure of the Chief of Staff in London to activate the British defense in Malaya; in the air due to disorganization at Air Command Headquarters; on the sea because Japanese efficiency was underestimated; and on land through misjudgment of the invasion of Malaya.</p><p>Author Kenneth Attiwill (1906-1992) himself a prisoner of the Japanese for 3-1/2 years was a writer and actor.</p>