SUCCESS OFF BALI

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 February 1942, Page 5

SUCCESS OFF BALI

JAPANESE FLEET SCATTERED SUNK OR BADLY DAMAGED RUGBY, February 23. The Netherlands War Department has announced that, owing to the strong action taken by the Allied air and sea forces, it can be assumed that the fleet which the Japanese sent out for the conquest of Bali has for the greater part been destroyed or badly damaged. A single ship which succeeded in escaping destruction has fled. The Netherlands Information Bureau adds: The magnificent successes of the Allied sea and air forces justify the belief that the landing on Bali means a Japanese Pyrrhic victory, like their conquest of the burning homes of Tarakan, Balik Papan, and Palembang.

TROOPS WITHOUT SUPPORT

(Recd. 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 23. The strong naval and air offensive against Japan’s expeditionary fleet oft Bali has been so successful that not a single warship or transport remained near Bali to give the troops already landed support or supplies. The attack on Bali is considered to be the preliminary to a large-scale assault on Java, which is separated from Bali by a strait only one mile wide. With the loss of the Den Passar aerodrome, and the Japanese occupation of South Sumatra, Java may expect a terrific aerial blitz within a few days. Already, the attacks have been intensified. BALI PARTLY OCCUPIED RUGBY, Feb. 23. The Netherlands War Department has announced that part of Bali, including the aerodrome at Den Passar, has been occupied by the Japanese, but, for this conquest, the Japanese had to pay a very high price. ATTACKS ON AERODROMES

RUGBY, Feb. 23

A Batavia communique states: During yesterday, Japanese aircraft have been extremely active in bombing and machine-gunning many aerodromes in Java. Aerodromes in the vicinity of Batavia, Burenzorg, Djockakarta, Sourabaya, and Malang have been attacked, and some damage was done here and there. Three or four Japanese fighters were shot down. There were only a few casualties. An attack by our bombers on enemy targets near Palembang produced satisfactory results. Japanese troops, towards the end of last week, attacked Koepang. The enemy are meeting with strong resistance. U.S. AIR RETALIATION. (Rec. 1 p.m.). WASHINGTON-, February 23. An Army communique states: Flying Fortress bombers i attacked the Japanese-held aerodrome at Den Passar, scoring several direct hits and destroying, it is believed, six medium bombers on the ground, and damaging the runways. The United States planes were not damaged. Recapitulating the operations of the United States Army and Air Forces in the Netherlands East Indies since January 1, the communique stated that at least nine enemy vessels were sunk, and 24 damaged. Forty-eight planes were destroyed. IN SOUTH SUMATRA ~LONDON, Feb. 23. Enemy penetration in southern Sumatra has not been as great as was at first feared. The Japanese advance has been impeded considerably by the blowing up by the Dutch of all railways. An aerodrome north of Palembang, which was destroyed by the retreating Dutch, has not yet been captured. A claim to have cut Dutch communications between the two islands of Java and Sumatra was made in Tokio to-night, but has not been confirmed.

CRITICISM OF ALLIES.

ALLEGED “INEPTITUDE

NEW YORK, February 23

The United States Press gives prominence to a broadcast by the correspondent of the National Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Martin Agronsky, who is in Sydney. He criticised both the United States and the British for ineptitude in the South-west Pacific warfare.

He described an incident occurring near Java, wherein a United States warship was convoying American troopships and the warship was unable to fight effectively against 32 attacking Japanese bombers, because the warship’s anti-aircraft ammunition was 11 years old, and was so defective that only 30 per cent, of the shells were bursting. Mr. Agronsky also related an alleged incident wherein Royal Air Force pilots, who were ready and eager to enter into battle, arrived in Singapore at the height of the hostilities there, only to be told that they were not expected in Singapore, and that they would therefore have to go to Java in order to receive instructions from the British High Command. In the meantime, the pilots’ ship was bombed in the Singapore docks. Mr. Agronsky asserted: The Allied defences throughout the Far Eastern theatre are still pitifully weak.” He gave a warning that the fight for Java would be waged against tremendous odds. , , , He added: “The Allies would have a good chance of holding Java only if 1000 United States fighter ’planes and 500 bomber 'planes arrived there immediately.” INQUIRY IN PROGRESS. (Rec. 2.20 p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 23. The Navy has announced that Admiral Blandy, Ordnance Chief, is investigating the N.B.C. report, that ammunition supplied to a warship operating in the Pacific was old and ineffective.

AWAITING THE BLITZ.

DUTCH COURAGE IS HIGH. i BATAVIA, February 22. The Associated Press representative cables: “To-day I sat on the terrace of a luxury hotel and listened to an eleven-piece orchestra with unconscious cynicism playing selections from ‘The Mikado.’ The all-clear had just sounded outside. Natives milled through the streets. Inside, officers drank and swopped stories, while Dutch and English girls, greatly outnumbered and revelling in it, held court. Last night the dance floor was so crowded that it was uncomfortable. The bar was jammed, and so was the dining-room, which is understandable as guests are sleeping five to a room. There is no sign of depression, fear, or foreboding. I had seen the same thing at Bandoeng and Sourabaya. War, even on an island smaller than New Zealand, can’t kill gaiety. The Japanese might have been 1000 miles away, instead of under 200. But the cloud moving over Java is not ignored. Many men in the bar met the Japanese face to face, some in Sumatra, others in Borneo, and the outer islands. At any moment the greatest blitz yet launched by the Japanese will be directed at Java. The mere fact that invasion has been delayed for some days is an indication that the Japanese are not underestimating the strength of the defences. They are bringing up reinforcements and preparing bases before striking. “To get fabulously wealthy Java, with every raw material Japan needs and 47,000,000 natives for cheap labour, was Japan’s primary object when she entered this war. When she strikes it will be with her full strength aerially and navally, and heavy troop landings will probably be made at several points. The Dutch defence is based on mobility. The Netherlands East Indies Army hopes, by its ability to rush strong forces to threatened points, to meet the Japanese on even terms. Dutch courage has never faltered. It is not faltering even though it is feared that all Allied promises are not going to be fulfilled. The Dutch here, see themselves in the same position as England after Europe was conquered. Thev say: Hitler got everything but what he wanted— England. The Japanese got everything but what they want —Java. If we can hold Java we can turn the tide of the war.’ ” A ROYAL TRIBUTE. LONDON, February 22. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, broadcasting to her people, paid a special tribute to the gallant defenders of the Netherlands East Indies. Regardin" the Caribbean area, the Queen said that the menace to Curacao and other islands was imminent. At any moment the same fate might befall Surinam.

AID FROM AUSTRALIA

LONDON, February 22

The Australian Minister of External Affairs (Dr. Evatt), is a speech, said that Australia had always looked upon the Netherlands East Indies as the bastion of Australia’s defence against Japan. For that reason, Australia would give all possible help and every request by the Commander-in.-Chief of the SouthWestern Pacific (General Wavell) was being acceded to.

ON TIMOR ISLAND.

JAPANESE NEARING KOEPANG?

LONDON, February 23. A Tokio report states that the Domei News Agency refers to the Japanese forces which landed at Dilli, Timor Island, on Friday. It is claimed that they occupied the aerodrome there, after repelling enemy troops. Meanwhile, it states, Japanese troops which landed in the vicinity of Koepang, in Dutch Timor, are reported to be closing in on Koepang, and to have delivered a violent attack on the Australian and Dutch troops there. ALLIED SHIPPING ATTACKED. CANBERRA, February 23. “Allied shipping in the Timor Sea was again bombed by Japanese fly-ing-boats during the week-end, but as far as is known it was without success,” said the Air Minister, Mr. Drakeford, to-day. COMMUNICATIONS CUT. RUGBY, February 23. No news is coming from Timor, as evidently communications have been cut.

BAUXITE FROM MALAYA. LONDON, February 23. “The fall of Malaya gives Japan sufficient supplies of bauxite to extend her present output,” says “The Times’s” financial correspondent. Japan is now likely to have control of 400,000 tons of bauxite yearly. An average of four tons of bauxite is needed to produce one ton of aluminium. Therefore Japan has gained 100,000 tons of aluminium. Japan will be able to produce only half of this amount unless she establishes new works. But its importance for plane production should not be underestimated.