JAPS. BOMB DUTCH JAVA HEADQUARTERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 43, 20 February 1942, Page 5

JAPS. BOMB DUTCH JAVA HEADQUARTERS

MORE TROOPS ARRIVE

Nine Planes Downed In Surabaya Raid UP.A. and British Wireloss. Rec. 2.30 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 19. The Japanese to-day for the first time bombed Bandoeng, the Dutch Army headquarters and natural stronghold of Java, high in the mountains, 74 miles south-east of Batavia, says a Batavia message. Twelve Japanese bombers, flying low, bombed and machine-gunned the airfield, while 20 enemy fighters circled protectively overhead. damage was done to the airfield. One Japanese bomber was probably shot down. Two Dutch fighters were lost, but one pilot is safe.

The Netherlands East Indies news agency announces that foreign troops, including Americans, have arrived in Java. Observers think it will take the Japanese at least two weeks to prepare for an invasion of Java from Sumatra. The air fields on south Sumatra which were blown up must be repaired.

The throbbing of native drums will warn Java of the Japanese invaders' approach, although Batavia has an efficient siren alarm system. This bush telegraph service is a safeguard in the event of modern appliances breaking down.

Arrivals from Palembang pay warm tributes to the bravery of the Indonesian troops in the face of heavy odds, their favourite weapon being the klewang (a native sword similar to a cutlass). They have been trained to shoot with carbines held under the left armpit, at the same time swinging their klewangs with the right hand. One group of 150 slaughtered a Japanese column at least twice as large. Another group raced across an open field and wiped out a number of Japanese machine-gun nests.

A Batavia communique says there was a Japanese air attack yesterday on the harbour area of Suraoaya by 24 planes. Aliied fighters attacked the enemy, while anti-air-craft defences opened fire. Eight enemy bombers and one fighter were shot down. Some damage was done. An airfield in cast Java was machine-gunned, slight damage being caused. One Indonesian was wounded. Anti-aircraft fire succeeded in hitting four enemy fighters, however, without the certainty that they were shot down.

To-day a Japanese air raid took place in an aerodrome in west Java, causing some damage. At other places in the Archipelago there was some enemy reconnaissance activity.

Action against the enemy forces which landed at Palembang still continues.