Are Out, on communications, the beach comber is reported to have said he didn't read papers or listen to the radio. As for telling everyone along the shore to be on the look out, they are thousands of miles away from an incident that was unconnected with their daily lives.
Ask any man in the street what aircraft have crashed in the sea or been shot down recently. I would guess you would get more blank looks. Ask the same question in KL and more would know.