JAPS. ON BALI

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1942, Page 4

JAPS. ON BALI

Drome Occupied BLITZ AGAINST JAVA EXPECTED. 8.0.W. RUGBY, February 23. The Netherlands War Department has announced that part of Bali, including the aerodrome at Den Passar, has been occupied by the Japanese. > A United States Army communique states: Flying Fortress bombers attacked the Japanese-held aerodrome at Den Passar, scoring several direct hits and destroying, it is believed, six medium bombers on the ground, und damaging .the runways. The United -States : planes were not damaged. 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 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. A! Batavia communique states: “During Sunday, Japanese aircraft have been extremely active in bombing and machine-gunning many aerodromes in Javq. 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. 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 were made in Tokio to-night, but has not been confirmed.

Occupation of Bali NOT COMPLETE. (Rec. 9.30). BATAVIA, February 24. Reports say that the Dutch concede only part occupation of Bali by the Japanese. The Dutch, however, have made their military dispositions, and are fully prepared to meet the enemy. AH Bali Claimed BY THE ENEMY. (Rec. 1.15). NEW YORK, Feb. 24. The Tokio Official Radio' states that the Janane-e Imperial Headquarters have claimed the complete occupation of the island of Bali by the Japanese. SUNDA STRAITS. JAPANESE CLAIM. (Rec. 1.15). NEW YORK, Feb. 24. The Domei News Agency stated that communications between Sumatra and Java have been severed. . 4 . _: A ; Dutch Refugees < FLOCK TO JAVA. BATAVIA, February 24. Hosts of refugees from outer Dutch islands have gone inland inJava, from Batavia. Hospital Ship BOMBED BY JAPANESE. (Rec. 1.30). RANGOON. Feb. 24. A Dutch hospital shin, namely the “Opten Noort”, was twice attacked bv a group of ei CT ht Japanese bombers while in a Javanese port. She was not hit, but considerable damage was done to hospital equipment bv near misses. Three were killed, and 13 were injured. It is officially stated that the ship was clearly marked with a Red Cross. Raid in Java BANDOENG BOMBED. (Dec. 1.16.) BANDOENG. Feb. 24. Fifteen Japanese twin-engined bombers raided Bandoeng, in West Java, south of Batavia, to-day.

Thirty bombs were dropped on the airfield, causing some damage. When the ’planes passed over the city itself, the rear-gunners scraved the streets with machine-gun bullets. One of the bullets when recovered, proved to be the heaviest used by any air force. It weighed over four ounces. The way in which these bullets richochet from walls and rooms after piercing the roof makes them a menace to those sheltering indoors. The Bandoeng people .are welldrilled in A.R.P. They were quicker to take cover than the people of Sourabaya or Batavia.