BIGGEST IN HISTORY
DUTCH DESTRUCTION IN SUMATRA
LONDON, February 16. A correspondent in Batavia today states that the Japanese attack on Palembang was preceded by dropping 700 paratroops, Who attempted to capture the oil refineries, biit failed. The Dutch last night commenced the destruction of all vit^l points ia the vicinity of Palembang. It is understood that the fate of the Palembang oilfields is the greatest instance of deliberate . destruction in! the world _ history. Beside it the Russians' destruction bf the Dnieper dam was a mere splash ' in the bucket. The output of these fields exceeds the entire output bf Rumania. They have produced nearly -4,500,000 tons a year—more than half tile entire output of the Indies. -' ¥hb demolition was a gigantic task, but the .Dutch had been preparing for it for tWo ybars. Their weapons were fife, dynamite, arid cemerit. At Palembang less warning was given, as it Was not thought that the Japariese would by^pass Singapore. Nevertheless, it is reported that the demblitlori was thorough.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 40, 17 February 1942, Page 5
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167BIGGEST IN HISTORY Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 40, 17 February 1942, Page 5
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