STRONG DEFENCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23818, 20 November 1940, Page 9

STRONG DEFENCES

DUTCH EAST INDIES "HOLD OUT INDEFINITELY" AUTHORITIES CONFIDENT SINGAPORE. Nov. 15 The Dutch East Indies Command is satisfied that it is now in a position to hold out indefinitely should an invader succeed in landing either in Java or the outer islands." This assertion was made by a special correspondent of the Sunday Times, who has just returned from a comprehensive tour of the Dutch possessions. Improvement Goes On The view, expressed by a former East Indies Governor-General, that the islands would be forced to capitulate if attacked is 110 longer held by the Dutch authorities. They point out that great strides have been made in completing the East Indies defences against aggression. "I made a most impressive tour of the East Indies naval and aerial establishments at Batavia, Bandoeng, and Sourabaya," the correspondent said. "At none of these places did 1 find the slightest fear regarding the outcome of any attack. "Everywhere there is confidence, determination, and the greatest activity to improve the already efficient defences. Ships and Aircraft "The Dutch East Indies fleet comprises several cruisers, many destroyers, submarines, mine-layers and torpedoboats. The navy is supported by numerous squadrons of flying-boats, which daily patrol the thousands of miles of coastline. • "The East Indies army is now at least 100,000 strong. Its men are selected from tribes known for their fighting qualities." The correspondent claimed that the Dutch East Indies are now receiving large supplies of war materials from the United States, including bombers and fighters. Before the end of 1940, he said, the East Indies will have an air force of 2000 machines. The Dutch authorities are now considering the formation of a conscript native militia. NAVAL SHELLING EAST AFRICAN PORT NO REST FOR ITALIANS BASES IN LIBYA BOMBED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received November 19, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 18 The Admiralty states that British light forces have carried out another naval bombardment, this time at Dante, Italian Somaliland, on oil tanks, on coastal and anti-aircraft batteries and on the landing pier. It is reported that all targets appear to be badly damaged. The Navy suffered no damage or casualties. The Air Ministry states that the Royal Air Force raided Benghazi, Solium, Bardia and Tobruk. A raid on Gura heavily damaged and set fire to a building. Direct hits at Agordat set fire to railway sidings. A message from Nairobi says it is revealed that four armoured cars from South Africa successfully attacked a large force which attempted to ambush them at Liboyi, in Italian Somaliland. The armoured cars escaped undamaged after inflicting heavy casualties, in spite of heavy mortar and machine-gun fire. A Cairo communique says that the situation on all fronts is unchanged. AIR FATALITY ACCIDENT IN AUSTRALIA DEATH OF INSTRUCTOR J i SYDNEY, Nov. 19 Pilot-Officer L. Baylis, instructor at the elementary flying training school at Kingsford Smith airport, was killed when he fell from a training aeroplane at a considerable height into a street in Randwick suburb, during an aerobatics manoeuvre. ". It was officially stated lat.er that neither Pilot-Officer Baylis nor his pupil, who brought the aeroplane down safely, were wearing parachutes. MUNICH BOMBING SEVERITY APPLAUDED "GENTILITY" ABANDONED LONDON, Nov. 11 ' "At last we have thrown off our distressing gentility and started to bring home fear and suffering to t,ho warmaker," comments the Sunday Dispatch, in applauding the Royal Air Force bombing of Munich, shrine of the Nazis, on the anniversary of the 1923 beerhall putsch. "For the first time in 434 days of war, in which Hitler has boastfully advertised his meetings at the Brenner Pass with Europe's second gravedigger," the Dispatch adds, "wo have combined courage and discourtesy to crcato 'merry hell' round the man who has brought misery to Europe. "Britain's patient rank and file will gratefully thank Air-Marshal Sir Charles Portal —the new head of the Ro}'al Air Force —who has a reputation for preferring to hit hard rather than sit still. His initial effort is theatrical. We still clamour for more and more of this." The heaviest bombs so far known in air warfare were dropped in the raid, according to the aviation correspondent of- the Daily Telegraph. Ho predicts that even bigger ones are coming the ■Germans' way. "It is not pointless bombing, because a direct hit on Hitler would be of greater benefit to our cause than half a dozen bombs on Hamin," says the Sunday Dispatch. It was the first time the Royal Air Force had "kept a date" with Hitler—which has been the ambition of every flying man since the bombing of Buckingham Palace^