EMERGENCY BASES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 122, 5 March 1942, Page 5

EMERGENCY BASES

THE JAPANESE IN JAVA, ATTACKED BY ALLIED PLANES. THE DUTCH CONFIDENCE. (United Press Association—Copyright J LONDON, March 4. There is no news from Java so far to-day, and Axis claims of progress in the fighting on the island can be neither confirmed nor denied. The Tokio radio claims that the Japanese have occupied a strategic railway point between Batavia and Bandoeng. The Domei News Agency claims the occupation of an Allied airfield in the middle of Java. Claims made in Berlin go further, saying that the Japanese are only 20 miles from Batavia, and that the force which landed at Rembang is advancing with tanks in the direction of Sourabaya. A Bandoeng message says that unofficial Dutch sources report that the Japanese have succeeded in establishing emergency air bases on Java, which Allied aeroplanes are attacking with considerable effect. The bases have admittedly increased the difficult task of the defenders.

Loaded Tanker Captured

Monday’s communique from Bandoeng said: “The Dutch, in the face of sfrong enemy landings, sank two more large transports and captured one enemy tanker with invaluable oil. It can be said that the first shock of the enemy landings has been checked and that the Japanese bid to put Java’s airfields out of action seems a long way from realisation.” Dutch circles in London say that the Netherlands East Indies Regular Army totals 50,000, including 20,000 Dutchmen. There are also 50,000 trained and well-equipped conscripts and Home Guardsmen. The number of British and American troops in Java is not great.

Commenting on the transfer of General Sir Archibald Wavell from the South-west Pacific Command to India the Netherlands Minister for Colonies said: “Java must now look to herself. No country in Java’s present circumstances could hold out indefinitely. “We have suffered tremendous losses, which are continuing, and the chances of getting reinforcements are rather slight. We can now just go on attacking the Japanese by land and in the air, but if we are to hold out we need all the reinforcements possible. Need for More Aeroplanes. “Additional aeroplanes are absolutely essential for Java’s, defence. The Japanese are able to reinforce themselves without great probability of serious interference. “The situation in Java has always been appreciated. That is why the Dutch have not believed in a policy of waiting for the Japanese, but. decided to fight them at any cost. “The fact that the Japanese have landed between 60,000 and 100,000 men is not surprising, because of the number of beaches and inlets. “The Japanese are evidently attempting to cut the island in half and to capture Sourabaya, which has been made more or less independent, with its own defence system against land and sea attacks.

“Reports regarding the size of the forces defending Java* are greatly exaggerated. It is impossible for untrained troops to stand up against skilled Japanese fighters.

“Java can safely be left to the care of Netherlander,” says the Bandoeng newspaper “Algemeen Indiscli Dagblad,” commenting on General Wavell’s departure. “Since communications between the Burma front and Java have been practically broken off, many wondered how the Supreme Commander could fulfil his task. General Wavell’s departure, therefore, was not entirely unexpected.” Nature of the Country. An official spokesman for the Netherlands East Indies in London said that the presen# rainy season in Java would last until about the beginning of June. The north coast of Java was fairly universally flat and muddy. Unlike Malaya, there was very little jungle left in Java, which was highly cultivated and had probably the best communications of any of the Pacific islands. In both the east and west of the island there were high mountains, but in the middle of Java, the narrowest part, the land was fairly flat, and from a military point of view the easiest part of the island. Batavia, which was without any naural frontal defences, was very vulnerable, said the spokesman, and Bandoeng, the new seat of Government, was the most easily defended city in Java. Sourabaya was strongly defended, both from the sea and land. The Japanese would presumably attack from the land, and there were, in fact, signs that they were attempting this. . The spokesman pointed out. that there were many aerodromes spread all over Java. Concluding, he said that the morale of the people in Java was excellent, and that there was small chance of any fifth column acj tivities. I