FORCES FOR DEFENCE OF JAVA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23587, 14 March 1942, Page 8

FORCES FOR DEFENCE OF JAVA

XKTHERLAN DS CONSU LATE ISSUES STATEMENT

(P.A.I WELLINGTON. March 13. According to a cabled message from London, the correspondent of the International News, in a message from Australia, said that the Dutch in Java had only four divisions, totalling 48.000 troops, 75 per cent, of which were natives, and that the Dutch Air Force consisted of only 70 fighters. • The Netherlands Consulate m Wei-, lington points out that it is not clear to which stage of. the fighting these figures refer, but the impression is con. veyed that they apply to the strength of the forces when the Dutch declared war on Japan. In this case they would be a gross underestimate. It was revealed by the Netherlands Government in London on January 26 that the Dutch forces in the East Indies included between 500 and 1000 Ameri-can-built aeroplanes, an army of 125.000. of whom it was estimated that at least 60 per cent, were Europeans, and also five cruisers, eight destroyers, eight motor torpedo boats, 20 submarines. and many smaller craft. The Consulate also states that in considering the course of events in Java it should be remembered that through their assistance to Malaya, Sarawak, and, in some degree, to the Philippines, together with losses suffered in the fighting in the Indies and in air attacks on Java preceding the invasion, the Dutch, while inflicting very great damage on the enemy, themselves have suffered considerable losses which have not been replaced.