DUTCH WARNING

Grey River Argus, 5 February 1942, Page 5

DUTCH WARNING

Japs Threaten Middle East

IF THEY PIERCE DUTCH ISLANDS.

(Rec. 7.15). WASHINGTON, Feb., 3. Doctor Van Mook, representative in the United States of the Netherlands East Indies, gave a speech to the National Press Club. He said that the needs were urgent for the co-ordination of purpose and pf operation among the United Nations m the Pacific. He said: “There has been progress made on this line since the war started, but we need the kind of co-operation that does away with traditions and customs, and that concentrates on war. We need one unified command and one unified purpose.” Dr. Van Mook spoke in the presence of Doctor Van Kieffens, the Foreign Minister of the Dutch Government at London. Dr. Van Kleffens also addressed the Club, but in more general terms. Dr. Van Mook-'s comment is considered to be significant, since Dr. Kieffens was at White House last week, and there said that the Pacific Council situation is confusing. To-day Dr. Van Mook said that, if the Japanese pierce the defence line between the mainland of i/sia and Australia', they will be able to attack in the rear of the Allied Forces on the Middle East front, and also will be able to hit Russia. To prevent this, he declared, there were needed good troops in the Pacific, as fast- as possible-. The Allies there wanted aircraft and anti-aircraft guns, also submarines and small surface craft. He said that the action in the Macassar Straits would have been a real defeat to the Japanese, instead of only a delay, if the United Nations had had enough surface boats to mop up after the aircraft had hit. Japanese vessels. “The United States Government fully understands the seriousness of the Pacific situation,” Dr. Van Kieffens said “Britain also fully understands it. But, with them, it is pnly a question of means.” Java’s Part GROWS MORE IMPORTANT. (Rec 8 20). BATAVIA, Feb. 3. Java ’is the last advanced Allied springboard m the Pacific, should S 3°fc t'te world's most closelysettled country. Forty-seven million neonle live on the island, which is the P size of New Zealand. . Thus the civilian morale is a 1 vital question. During Tuesday’s Japanese an, raids, the behavipur of the people in places bombed was splendid. • The importance of Sourabaya as a naval iand air base increases as the threat to Singapore grows. The Japanese are likely to encounter increasingly strong defences in the future m Sourabaya. 1 BORNEO CLAIMED. LONDON. February 3. The Tokio radio claims that prac-

tically the whole of Borneo, in addition to all the airfields, is now in Japanese hands. JAPANESE CLAIM. TO BRITISH BORNEO TOWN. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 12.9). LONDON, February 4 The Beriin radio, quoting the Tokio radio, claims that tile Japanese have occupied the town of Tawao m British North Borneo Australian Flying-boat brought down by japs. ON FLIGHT FROM DARWIN.

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] MELBOURNE, February 4. Thirteen persons were killed when a Qantas Empire Airways flying-boat was attacked by enemy fighters and ■crashed into the sea, during a flight from Darwin to Koepang on Friday. Revealing this, the Minister for Air (Mr Drakeford) said that the aircraft carried 13 passengers and a crew of five, of whom three passengers and two members of the crew have been saved. The aircraft was forced down by fighters at the mouth of the Noelmina River near Koepang, at about the same time as the Japanese bombing raids were made on the town. When the flying-boat crashed into the sea, its back] was broken, and it sank shortly afterwards. One of the survivors, Captain A. A. Koch, commander of the flying-boat, received a broken right leg, and machine-gun wounds in the left arm .and Jeft leg. Medical aid has been sent to the injured, who are known to be on the mainland in the vicinity of Koepang. The aircraft carried a ton o f mails, and it is considered unlikely that these would be recovered. DETAILS OF VICTIMS. (Rec. 11.45). SYDNEY. Feb. 4 The commander of the flying boat that was shot down over Koepang on Friday is Captain Aubrey Koch. Ho is a Tasmanian, aged 3'(. He has been with the Quantas Company four years He has had ten thousand flying hours. Three of the crew were killed They were natives of England and Scotland. Three of the passengers were returning to Sarawak. The remainder of the passengers were Australians. FRESH RAID ON KOEPANG

(Rec. 11.45) CANBERRA, Feb. 4

Japanese planes again raided Koepang at 9 o’clock on Tuesday morning. The Minister for Air, Mr Drakeford, announced this to-day. He said that the raid lasted for an hour. Ten enemy machines took part. Buildings were machine-gunned, Small ships were attacked in the harbour. A motor-boat was destroyed No report has been received regarding damage or casualties. AIR MAILS RESUMED TO AUSTRALIA [Aust. & N.Z. Caole Assn.] (Rec. 11.45) CANBERRA. Feb. 4. The Ministei' for Air, Mr Drakeford. announced in Canberra to-day that all mail services from Australia to Singapore Island and to the Netherlands Indies were resumed todav. The resumption of air mails to the Middle East and to the United Kingdom is being announced later. NO NEWS OF RABAUL (Rec. 11.45) CANBERRA, Feb. 4. The Army Minister, Mr F. MForde, said to-night he had received no further news as to what is going on in Rabaul, although every effort is being made to that end.