January 3, 1942
Today in World War II Pacific History
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SATURDAY, 3 JANUARY 1942

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill announce the creation of a unified command in the South West Pacific, with General Sir Archibald P. Wavell as supreme commander of American, British, Dutch, and Australia (ABDA) forces in that area. The new ABDA command is directed to hold the Malay Barrier spanning from the Malay Peninsula-Sumatra-Java-Australia) and operate as far beyond as possible to check Japanese advance; hold Burma and Australia; restore communications with the Philippines via the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) and maintain communications within theater. These objectives will prove impossible.

Borneo: Japanese invade Labuan Island without opposition. From there, a detachment moves to mainland at Mempakul, thence to Weston on foot, and from weston to Beaufort by rail.

Malaya: Indian 11th Div completes withdrawal to Slim River line. Because of threat to communications in west Malaya, Kuantan force on east coast, which had previously been ordered to hold RAF Kuantan airdrome until January 10, 1942, begins fighting withdrawal at once. Newly formed and poorly trained Indian 45th Brig, reinf, and an Indian Pioneer Battalion (a labor unit) arrive at Singapore and concentrate in southern Malaya.

Philippines: Japanese Army continue determined attacks on western flank of Porac-Guagua line, where 21st Division (PA) succeeds in halting then south of Pio; exert strong pressure on east flank in vicinity of Guagua.