DETERMINED TO FIGHT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 137, 12 May 1941, Page 8

DETERMINED TO FIGHT

EAST INDIES DEFENCES. (Rec. 1.15 p.m.) BATAVIA, May 11. Three hundred thousand Dutch, 1,-500,000 Chinese and over 00,000,000 natives in the East Indies have entered the 'second year of war against Germany with solemn declarations to continue the tight alongside Britain until the aggressor i 6 defeated. The allegiance of the natives to the British and Dutch cause was demonstrated by special services in all mosques throughout the East Indies. At Batavia’s chief mosque, the Regent of Batavia addressed the faithful, saying the East Indies will offer the strongest opposition it attacked, without consideration from which side the attack comes. Reviewing the strengthening of the East Indies defences, General J. Bcreuschot, Commander-in-Chief of the Netherlands East Indies army said: “Our air force has; received important reinforcements for increasing the safety of large, towns against air attacks. Supplies of the new aircraft are still coming forward and our squadrons are patrolling the whole archipelago. These aircraft operate from bases 'veil defended by infantry, whence they can refuel and load bombs when required. The widespread fuel and ammunition dumps laid down by the army have l>een’reinforced with men, arms and mechanised equipment. Mobility has increased with armoured cars and hundreds of motor transport vehicles. In addition to the standing army, a second army, including town guards anu country guards, is rapidly being termed. New fortifications in many places of the archipelago have greatly increased our defensive power.