ALL-OUT JAP. DRIVE FOR INDIES BASES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1942, Page 5

ALL-OUT JAP. DRIVE FOR INDIES BASES

NAZI AGENT SENTENCED

JAVA MAIN BARRIER

" Offensive Defence " Is Dutch Strategy

Untfted Press Association. — Copyright

Rec. 2 p.m.

LONDON, Feb. 22

The Japanese are concentrating troops as speedily as possible at island bases around Java, particularly in south-east Sumatra, south Borneo and south Celebes, reports The Times Batavia correspondent.

The Japanese are also making an effort to control the channels eastwards and westwards of Bali, leading from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, because this would enable the Japanese Navy to menace Java's seaboard and also provide a base for the invasion of Java.

The Dutch believe in "offensive defence" and intend to apply the principle against the Japanese, adds the correspondent. The Dutch would like to see dffensive defence become the keynote of the whole Allied Pacific strategy.

Java's configuration will aid its defence. The island's interior is mountainous, with ranges of over 10,000 ft. Practically the entire Dutch Indies army is concentrated in Java. Offensives against the Japanese navy and merchantmen will be easier in the narrow channels of the Dutch Indies than in the large expanses of the Pacific. Therefore Java is tremendously important as a springboard for offensives.

People who have escaped from Sarawak, after trekking across Borneo, report that the Japanese are using Manchukuan levies in Sarawak for unimportant military duties and confirm that the occupation of the Malays is extremely thin.

The Tokyo radio claims that Japanese forces are proceeding to occupy the whole of Timor Island, off the northern coast of Australia. It says that Australian troops tried to restrain the advance, but were repulsed.

A Batavia message says it can now be revealed that Timor, Flores and Sumba Islands have been frequently raided by the Japanese since January 26. Flores and Sumba Islands are between Timor and Bali.

When enemy fighters first strafed an aerodrome on Timor an aeroplane carrying the Assistant-Resi-dent of Timor and the District Officer of Koepang was shot down. All the occupants were killed.

There have been several aerial attacks on shipping in the Timor Sea.

Following the Japanese air raids on Thursday, Darwin has been placed under martial law. All civilians, where possible, are being evacuated. The only women to remain will be nurses. The Minister for the Interior, Senator Collings, said the evacuation would be completed by next Thursday. Only men required for the defence of Darwin will remain In the town. The Administrator, Mr. C. L. A. Abbott, will remain at the port to assist the military authorities.

In the course of Thursday's raids, enemy aircraft attacked Bathurst Island, near Darwin. The attack was not heavy.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, announced that a hospital ship at Darwin was bombed and damaged. He said the official report stated that the ship was clearly marked with a Red Cross.

Rec. 2 p.m. WASHINGTON, Feb. 22

Lau.a Ingalls, who was recently tried on the charge of failure to register as a Nazi agent, has been sentenced f.orn cipht months to two years under that charge.