FOR ALL-OUT ATTACK

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1942, Page 5

FOR ALL-OUT ATTACK

Dutch Confident

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, February 24. In a broadcast from Batavia, the Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies said that the moment was approaching when an all-out attack would be launched by the enemy. Java had an extensive coastline, but the Netherlands fleet followed the principle-of taking the offensive, and there was a strong army and a strong air force in Java. The situation in Java, was entirely different from that- in the other provinces of the East Indies, and an attack on it would be much more difficult.

- BANDOENG, February 24. When the Japanese entered Palembang, they imme'diately released all the prisoners from the city gaol, who promptly looted neighbouring pawnbrokers’ shops. This was related by a Dutch woman who escaped from the oil centre.

' She said that all the Japanese troops carried bundles of bank notes, inscribed: “The Japanese Government promises to pay the bearer ten guilders.” From several sources she heard how unarmed British soldiers attacked Japanese paratroops armed with tommy-guns and grenades. The British killed several Japanese with their bare fists.

The Dutch from Palembang all pay a tribute to the fine shooting of the Australian anti-aircraft units, who held their fire until the Japanese paratroops bailed out, and then blew them to pieces in the air. A Japanese pilot, who was shot down uninjured, was recognised as a former cashier from a Falembang shop. There have been many such instances of Japanese pre-war espionage in the Indies.

Jap. Losses off Bali A BIG CHECK. LONDON, February 24. The great air and naval battle off Bali was a major victory for the Allies. Although the threat to Java is by no means removed, there is no doubt that the Japanese ' received a big check in the loss of a large number of cruisers, destroyers and transports sunk or damaged. Though the Japanese have occupied the Den Pasar aerodrome, on the island of Bali, off the eastern end of Java, they have been heavily pounded there by Allied aircraft. This morning’s messages from the Far East shows clearly that neither in the Netherlands East Indies nor to the north of Australia have the Japanese attained that supremacy m the air which they set out to win. In southern Sumatra, Allied aeroplanes operating over the island successfully attacked the aerodrome at Palembang. Retreat From Bali BY JAPANESE WARSHIPS. (Rec. 12.50.) LONDON, Feb. 25. A Batavian report states that American fliers sighted what are apparently the remnants of the Japanese invasion fleet steaming northward from Bali. There were one cruiser and one destroyer towing a damaged cruiser and a destroyer.