HOPES OF DUTCH

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 56, 7 March 1942, Page 7

HOPES OF DUTCH

AID WHICH DID NOT COME

BATAVIA EVACUATION

' (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 1 p.m.) BANDOENG, March 6. The Netherlands communique announces that Batavia has Been evacuated in order to obtain greater freedom for the further defence of west Java. The, Japanese will find Batavia a hollow prize, as all important installations were destroyed and many people moved to the interiqr. Tokio radio says that the Japanese met no resistance entering ! ' Batavia, but that strong opposition was encountered outside the capital. The Japanese now occupy practically all western Java, and the fall of Djogja confirms the belief that central Java is virtually in enemy hands. It is believed that the main action ■will develop around Bandoeng. Reuters Bandoeng correspondent reJports that the Dutch launched a ter\rific frontal attack and drove the Japanese from the plains in the Bandoeng area. . COUNTER-STROKE FAILS. The counter-offensive planned by I General ter Poorten early this week' almost' succeeded, but at the decisive Moment the Japanese air force turned tlie scales. It can" now be revealed that the Ptacific Council assured the Nether-' lands authorities that if a stand could j be 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 enemy. j In view of this, the Dutch preparations during the last few weeks were mafinly preparations of the positions which the Allies were going to occupy. Bub the reinforcements did not- flow in; they trickled in, and did not con- \ sist of man-power. I Tfaus, when the enemy landed last' Sunday in numbers believed ta exceed 100,000, they outnumbered the Dutch four to one in men, equalled or surpassed them in material, and had air* superiority.