ABSTRACT
The Japanese succeeded in capturing the last water source in the island by 13 February – McRitchie Reser voir. Oddly enough, they neither cut the pipe nor closed the valve (Simson thinks they must have been sure of vic tory by this time and did not want the problems of a waterdeprived population on their hands). But wastage proved a worse enemy than the Japanese. In the twenty-four-hour period of 14-15 February, five-sixths of the water supply from the Woodleigh pumping station – 800 yards from the Japanese positions – was going to waste. Percival himself, aware of the absolutely crucial importance of his water supply, came to the Municipal Offices twice on 14 February to check the supply figures personally. He was not surprised, then, when Simson reported to the Confer ence in Fort Canning on 15 February that water would fail within twenty-four hours; and there can be no doubt that this and the appalling dangers it implied for the civil population were the major factors in his decision to surrender.
