FOE HITS AT SUMATRA PALEMBANG GOAL PARACHUTE.'TROOPS TWO POINTS CLEARED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 39, 16 February 1942, Page 5

FOE HITS AT SUMATRA

PALEMBANG GOAL

PARACHUTE.'TROOPS

TWO POINTS CLEARED

MOVE MADE FROM SEA

(By Telegraph—Press Association-^Copyright.) (Rec. 9 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 15.

A Batavia communique reports that, contrary to expectations, the Japanese have begun a large-scale invasion of Palembang, in Sumatra, from the sea, and have taken control of important installations.

A Berlin report from Tokic claims that the Japanese have completely occupied the island fortress of Blakang Mati, southwards of Singapore.

DROPPED AT THREE PLACES

BATAVIA, February 14: The Japanese struck at Sumatra without waiting for Singapore to fall. Palembang, with a population of 120,000, was attacked with planes, and parachute troops were dropped in three places. A vigor* ous resistance was made, and dozens of parachutists were killed. Palembang lies 54 miles up the Moesi River, which is navigable for ocean-going ships only at high tide, and thus risky for an attempt from the sea. Moreover, a coastal strip of marshy land extends for 70 miles, and renders hazardous the task of the troops which have landed. Palembang supplies 60 per cent, of the Netherlands East Indies oil output. Having lost the Balik Papan and "Tarakan oil, the Japanese are making a desperate attempt to capture the Palembang oil installations intact. More than 100 enemy planes, escorted by fighters, took part in an attack which preceded the dropping of -the parachutists. There is no report regarding the outcome of the fighting, but it is assumed that the situation is not unfavourable.

At Tandjong Pandang (capital of the tin island of Billiton, between Sumatra

and Borneo) some bombs were dropped, as the result of which one civilian was slightly wounded. Two fighters machine-gunned an airfield on the same island without causing damage or casualties.

It is officially stated in Batavia that, according to unconfirmed reports, Banjermassin, on the extreme southeast of Borneo, has been occupied by the Japanese.

It is stated that the destructions ordered had already been carried out as had been done at other places on the archipelago when danger from the enemy became imminent and when defence was not considered possible.

DEFENCE MEETS BLOW

(Rec noon.) RUGBY, Feb. 15. The following communique was issued today by headquarters of the Netherlands East Indies forces at Batavia. "The Japanese on Saturday morning launched an attack over Palembang, dropping large numbers of parachutists. One Japanese bomber was shot down. "At three different points a total of several hundreds of parachutists were dropped according to a very rough estimate. They were armed with tommy-guns, light mortars, and other weapons. "The attack was clearly .directed against the oil refineries, but the enemy did not succeed in capturing them. Our troops did a good job and made short work of the invaders. • "Towards evening two points of af tack were cleared of parachutists, while at the third point we had the situation fully in hand with only some tens of the enemy still alive. DEMOLITION CARRIED OUT. "In connection with the large-scale landing actions which were expected in the course of this morning and which, while this communique was being issued, were in full swing, we pro-1 ceeded in the course of last night to carry out a thorough destruction of all vital points in the vicinity of Palembang. "Bombers of the Netherlands Indies army this morning scored direct hits on three Japanese transport ships near Muntok on Banka Island. As has been reported previously from south of Celebes Island, fighting is continuing, especially in the vicinity of Macassar. Resistance is being maintained with great stubbornness. i" "Anambas Islands, east of Malaya, have been occupied- by the Japanese." —8.0. W.