EXPECTED SOON

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 42, 19 February 1942, Page 7

EXPECTED SOON

SPRING AGAINST JAVA

ENEMY PLANE LOSSES

LONDON, February 18,

Allied forces in the Netherlands East Indies are awaiting the next Japanese move. It is thought that it will be an attack on Java, and it .may take place at any moment, but there are indications that it will take the Japanese some time to repair the airfields in Sumatra.

From Batavia, the destruction of 11 Japanese aircraft is reported. Five out of an enemy force of 21 enemy bombers were shot down during a raid on Surabaya, which, since the fall of Singapore, has become the most important Allied naval base in the south-west Pacific.

■ Little . damage was done Jand. there were few casualties.

A communique from General Wavell's headquarters in Java reports that during operations against the enemy in southern Sumatra a squadron of American fighters shot down four enemy fighters without loss to themselves. Two more Japanese fighters were brought down ,by Dutch

bombers. American and Dutch aircraft have also attacked enemy shipping.

Many barges full of troops have been'destroyed, one large transport has been destroyed, and two others hit.

A Washington communique says that American Flying Fortresses were used to attack Japanese ships off an island. Not one of the American planes was damaged.

Today's Batavia communique says that Japanese bombers attacked Kupang, in Dutch Timor, and that three people were slightly injured. The communique also says that land fighting continues in many places in Borneo, but has almost ceased in. the Minahassa area of northern Celebes. '

Batavia radio quotes a report from a correspondent in Celebes who says the defenders are maintaining the positions occupied after their withdrawal from Macassar.

. In the interior of the island life is more or less normal and the spirit of the people is extremely high.