BATTLE FOR JAVA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23582, 9 March 1942, Page 5

BATTLE FOR JAVA

Japanese Masters Of Air DUTCH FORCES REFORMING (Received March 8, 10.10 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, March 8. “The fate ol Java is in the balance, and at the moment It appears that the scales are weighted heavily in favour of the Japanese," says tfle Bandoeng correspondent of the “Daily Express. “The Japanese are using British tanks captured in Malaya. Dutch casualties so far have not been heavy. The main defence force is intact. Units of forces that have been withdrawn are being reformed and re-equipped in readiness for another counter-offensive. There are still some reserves behind the trained front-line troops. Upon the speed with which the reforming process is achieved may hang the fate of Java.” The Bandoeng correspondent of the Associated Press of America reported that the Japanese penetrated the northern defences of Bandoeng on Saturday morning. A message from Bandoeng at 10 a.m. (local time) on Saturday said a breach In the defence lines occurred on Friday night on tho northern slope of the volcano Tangkuban Prahu in spite of the fierce resistance of the out-numbered Dutch forces, The message added that the Dutch were continually harassed by Japanese aeroplanes, against which sufficient resistance was no longer possible. The Radio Corporation of America says the Netherlands East Indies wireless went off the air at 7.45 a.m. (New York time) on Saturday, The Dutch operator abruptly wired: “Good-bye.” and the transmission ceased. ' Lieutenant-General ter Poorten believed that his forces would have greater freedom for an encounter round Bandoeng as a result of the evacuation of Batavia. He hoped that the defenders would be able to hold the Japanese at some point whore tho country favoured 1 defence along the lines adopted by General Mac Arthur in the Philippines. The Government has ordered the destruction of liquor stocks in , towns where Japanese occupation is imminent to prevent tho invaders from imbibing and causing disturbances. It can now be revealed that the Pacific War Council assured the Netherlands authorities that, if a stand could bp made as long as the second part of February, reinforcements would literally pour in to such an extent that the Japanese would face an equal enemyin view of this the Dutch preparations during the last few weeks were mainlv Preparations of positions which the Allies were going to occupy, but the reinforcements did not flow in; they trickled in, and they did not consul manpower, Thus, when the enemy landed last Sunday in numbers believed to exceed 100,000, they outnumbered the Dutch by four to one in men. equalled or surpassed them in materia', and had ajr Istiperiority. A report from Batavia states that a shipload' of aircraft from the United States was destroyed while it was off the coast of Java. It is pointed out in authoritative circles in London that although there is little fresh news from Java, Allied ‘mops are making an extremely determined defence, states a British Official Wireless message. It is also pointed out that, although there may be no Hews of tho fighting in the other islands. such as Sumatra, Borneo, Timor, and Celebes, it s' uild not be inferred lhat no fighfiim is going on. Although me Japanese claim to he in control of these islands, they sneak only o f ports and aerodromes, but the Dutch and their Allies have by no means thrown in their hand. When troops take to this type of guerrilla fighting news is difficult to obtain, because any wireless sets they possess would not have the range to give details of what is happening. JAPANESE NAVAL LOSSES WASHINGTON. March 7.. “Sea Power," a magazine, says the United States Navy League is compiling Japanese naval losses. It states that Japan has lost at least 35 maior Warships from a total fleet of 260. The magazine specifies the losses as follows: two out of a total of 10 battleships, seven out of 46 cruisers, 13 out of 125 destroyers, and 13 out of 17 submarines.