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ORIGINAL: VSWG

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ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
The jpg conversions suffer, however.]

Judging from your screenshots, you're saving the jpegs with quality = 90. Try setting quality to 95, or even lossless (=100), if file size doesn't matter.

Good AAR, I like the pictures. [:)]

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Dec. 8 We just got word that Kuantan fell last night! The situation is so bad that the FSMV has been ordered to try to escape across the mountains to Taiping. As there is no proper road for most of the distance, this will certainly mean abandonment of heavy weapons. We are ordered to support RAF ground support personnel at Khota Bahru aerodrome. The RAF has ceded air control to the Japs who have bombed the field heavily today, again. Bill Thomas, a plantation manager and KVF volunteer was killed today while he was passing ammo to a Bofors crew during the latest Jap attack. Edith went to offer some solace to his wife. Having a purpose helps hide the panic, which is everywhere under the surface. There is no word yet on the Swiss legation and their effort to get a plane to Singapore. I am doing my best to show a sense of confidence to all around me, but I fear they can perceive the pretense.

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ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

I'm sorry if I missed it Mandrake, but who are you quoting there?

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ORIGINAL: Terminus

Arthur Dent??? BWAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!

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ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

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ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

I'm sorry if I missed it Mandrake, but who are you quoting there?

That would be a certain Arthur Dent, recently of Uxbridge, now gone to Malaysia with his new bride and infant son to find his fortune among the Colonials in Khota Bahru, Kalentan Province, Malaysia.

Swept up in nationalist fervor (and to protect his business), he has joined the 138-man strong Kalentan Volunteer Force, comprised of mostly English Colonials but also a few Malay and Chinese. This is what is supposed to throw back the Imperial Japanese Army landing force [:(] [:)]

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138? Force? What are they planning to do once the nationalist fervor wears off and reality sets in?

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Dec. 9....More of the same today. A half-dozen RAAF Wirraways were operating from the field today. From the looks of things, they didn't accomplish much. The planes themselves, but certainly not the pilots, seem to lack enthusiasm. The Wirraways appear to be carrying the daily mail shipment for Eastern Malaysia as the lumber skyward. It is quite a disheartening contrast to the Zero. Perhaps if the RAAF could spare some of the beautiful Brewsters we would have a chance of stoppig the Jap attacks. FSMV has made it only about 6 miles into the bush by shuttling in on lorries. The roads, such as they are, have turned into a machinery-eating bog. The Sultan of Kalentan gaves all the chaps of KVF custom hand towels with his Royal colors. A nice gesture, but a few Bren guns would have been nice. The boys have found them useful in swatting away flies, but I do confess, if not for the vivid colors, I might have misplaced mine several times already

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ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

Mr. Dent is a terrible speller (assuming this is hand-written). [;)]

LOL @ "beautiful Brewsters"

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ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

Mr. Dent is a terrible speller (assuming this is hand-written). [;)]

LOL @ "beautiful Brewsters"

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ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

The 1901 Underwood, rivaling even the Brewster

[image]local://upfiles/7983/051386ABA78B4B2FA178FAE54B68AB1D.jpg[/image]

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Dec 10...I think the RAF is giving up on the Khota Bahru aerodrome. They are having trouble keeping it operational. The Wirraways flew off to Mersing this morning. There is word that advancing Japanese troops in Siam are rounding up the ethnic Chinese, whom they apparently fear as troublemakers. This has only served to increase anxiety and anger among the ethnic Chinese here in Malaysia. This is going to be a nasty business. I have no confidence that Commonwealth nationals will fare any better should they fall into Japanese hands. Many of the Colonials here are angry with the British government for failing to provide an adequate defence of Malaysia. Where is the Prince of Wales?

Access to Johore is still cut, but a second brigade has been moved to try to stop the two Jap divisions about 50 miles West of Kuantan.

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ORIGINAL: scott1964

How do you detail your maps? [8D]

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ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

Are the civillians clammoring at the Singapore docks yet, Mandrake?

I'm guessing Mr. Dent's story will be a short one. Unless he's devised some clever way of being able to backstroke to Australia.

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ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

I suppose he could ask the next passing IJN troop convoy to give him a lift. But I heard that the IJN is terrible with dirrections. Guys tend to end up in Burma, where the only work availible is some railroad or other.

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Dec 11...This morning brings more bad news. Japanese tanks have reportedly crossed the Siam/Malay border. Accordingly, the FMSV brigade has been recalled to Khota Bahru. They already appear beaten men. Three days in the jungle appear to have tempered their war spirit. I don't think the inconstancy of decisions have served us well either. In contrast, the 8th Indian retain their discipline. That is the difference of professional soldiering, I imagine. They seem unconcerned that we are almost certain to be surrounded. Perhaps they are uninformed. We are now ordered to move South and try to break out. Captain Thisthlethwaite could not bear to look us in the eyes when he relayed the order. In a nod to the dire situation for civilians, he has allowed those that wish to stay behind with family members to leave the unit. Most of the Colonials have chosen to try to escape, however poor the chances rather than risk internment or a POW camp. Our plan, such as it is, is for KVF to guard the civilians and skirt W and NW around Kuantan while 8th Indian and FMSV engage the Japs. Edith is preparing a supply of tinned beef and dry noodles and a months worth of quinine for the trip. God help us.

At dawn today, a half dozen Dutch transports got out some of the RAF ground support troops. This was unannonced as hundreds of desperate people swarmed the airfield upon their approach. If fell upon us to hold them back. This was a most distasteful duty.