JAPAN’S SUCCESSES

Evening Star, Issue 24082, 31 December 1941, Page 7

JAPAN’S SUCCESSES

DUE TO AIR SUPERIORITY STRATEGIC BASES OBTAINED MANILA, Dec. 29. ’The Pacific war started as an air war, and still remains such. With the establishment of air bases in_ the Philippines, Japanese air activity is increasing over all parts of the archipelago. The enemy has now obtained various points from which to escort transports and also to protect bombers with fighters. At sea, Japanese aircraft have established numerical superiority over the narrow straits, channels, and the sea which comprise the major zone of combat. The Manila correspondent of the ‘ New York Times ’ says that the local military leaders are unanimously of the opinion that Japan’s successes in the Philippines are solely due to her air superiority after destroying or damaging the defenders’ vital airfields. It is clear that after the experience of Luzon, underground hangars and other devices to conceal the ground facilities from “ fifth columnists ” are absolutely indispensable. This_ does not mean that the Philippine situation is hopeless. On the contrary, it is expected that the assistance from America will soon re-establish air superiority for the defenders. MAIL BAGS LOST (Rec. 8 a.m.) BATAVIA, Doc. 30. A K.L.M. plane which was destroyed during the bombing of Medan aerodrome contained 31 bags of Australian mail destined for Australian troops in the Near East. All this mail was lost.

STRANGE JAPANESE CLAIM SINGAPORE TO BE EVACUATED BY BRITISH (Rec. 10.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, Doc. 30. The Tokio radio claims that “ special information” reaching Japan indicates that Britons in Singapore are preparing for “ another Dunkirk,” and have concentrated hundreds of ships for the evacuation of soldiers and civilians. Jt adds that Australia and New Zealand are seriously menaced themselves, therefore are unable to give further assistance to Singapore, while Japan has abundant oil and strategic bases in Sarawak for an attack against Singapore, JAPANESE NAVY LOSSES ADMITTED BY TOKIO NEW YORK. Doc. 29. The Tokio official radio admitted the loss of two destroyers and a mine sweeper off Borneo. A United States submarine sank two additional enemy ships, says a United States naval communique. “ One was a transport and the other a supply vessel. During air operations one of our destroyers was attacked. Slight damage and minor casualties resulted.” RAID ON BORNEO (Bee. 8 a.m.) LONDON, Doc. 29. A Batavia message states that the number of dead as the result of the Japanese air raid on Pontianak (Borneo) now total 128.