Singapore was an island of vital strategic importance — essential sea lanes lay either side of it — but all the gun emplacements faced out to sea. To the north of Singapore lay jungle that was thought impassable. The only problem was, by February 1942 the Japanese had marched through it. Thirty-five thousand Japanese troops confronted a defending force of twice that number under the command of Lieutenant General Arthur Percival. The Japanese were tough, confident and resourceful. The British and their allies were inexperienced, confused and uncertain.