SERIOUS POSITION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 123, 6 March 1942, Page 3

SERIOUS POSITION

THE ALLIED FORCES IN JAVA.

NO PROTECTION IN THE AIR.

]ENEMY CAPTURES AERODROME.

(United Press Association—Copyright.) '(Rec: 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, Mar. 5. Reuter’s correspondent at Bandoeng ’describes the situation in Java as serious but by no means desperate. The Japanese captured Surakarta and the aerodrome at Kalidjati, near Bandoeng, from which they are dive-bomb-ing and machine-gunning 1 the Allied troops. Advanced Japanese spearheads are in the region of Sourabaya, which is being constantly bombed.

Although reports that a second Japanese . armada is bringing troops to Java is not confirmed the enemy is undoubtedly bringing in reinforcements through their coast bridgeheads. Japanese planes were over our forward positions throughout the day, operating from Kalidjati. They unload their bombs, then rush back to fill up again. Our lack of planes is pitiable. iVirtually no assistance can be given to our ground troops and practically nothing is available to direqt the range ( of our artillery. We cannot prevent the Japanese using the air bases and there is rarely anything except antiaircraft fire now and then. Japanese ‘bombers and fighters daily raid Bandoeng. However the troops are in excellent spirits despite the gruelling they have received and are determined to hold off the enemy.