Poorten’s Small Army Yields More Ground To Enemy

Northern Advocate, 7 March 1942, Page 5

Poorten’s Small Army Yields More Ground To Enemy

LONDON. March 6

General ter Poorten’s stubborn little army in Java has yielded more ground in the west, centre and east, says the Bandoeing correspondent of the “Daily Express.” The Japanese have reached points 10 miles west and 50 miles east of Batavia.

Further landings have taken place in the west according to authoritative circles in London, and fierce fighting is proceeding.

For the first time since the invasion it is now possible to get a clear picture of Japanese intentions, says the Dutch journalist, Paul Frische. The Japanese will try to cut communications between Batavia and Bandoeing, encircle Batavia, and then turn round for the main attack in the south, where the main body of the Dutch army is waiting in the mountains. The fact that Surakarta has been occupied shows I that the enemy is well on the way to cut Java in half. Stand in Mountains The invasion troops have advanced quickly over the comparatively thinlydefended plains of north Java, and are now rolling toward the mountain bastions, (where the Dutch have decided to make a stand. A' fierce battle raged 'around the Kalidjati aerodrome for several days, and only terrific divebombing forced the Dutch to withdraw. Although the enemy in some places is only 40 miles from the Dutch army headquarters at Bandoeing. scarcely any excitement is noticeable, and, notwithstanding the rapidity of the initial Japanese advance, military circles in Bandoeing seem to consider that the situation is well in hand. Cripps Raises Hornet’s Nest The omisson of any reference to the Netherlands East Indies in the broadcast on Wednesday by the Leader of the House of Commons (Sir Stafford Cripps) says Mr. Frische. has caused astonishment in Bandoeing. Public comment generally is bitter. It is felt that, in the very hour in which Dutch and Allied troops are fighting stubbornly to stem the Japanese advance before it reaches the shores of Australia, a leading British statesman, summing up Britan's Allies, considers it superfluous even to mention Java.

This is as if he were voicing the opinion that the battle of Java is already a lost issue, a matter concerning Which it is better not to talk. It is learned in London that there will be no evacuation of Dutch men and women from Java.