NO NEW LANDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24214, 4 March 1942, Page 5

NO NEW LANDING

HEAVY BLOWS AT ENEMY IN JAVA ALLIED TROOPS ON MOVE ANOTHER JAPANESE FLEET REPORTED (Received March 3, 11.20 p.m.) LONDON, Mairh 3 No fresh landings of Japanese troops have been made in Java, states a report from Bandoeng. Heavy blows from the air are being inflicted on those Japanese who had already landed, and the Allied troops are moving forward to meet the enemy. There is no news that any fresh enemy penetration has taken place beyond the points mentioned immediately after the landings. Important installations at Batavia have been destroyed, although there is not yet any direct threat to the city. The United Press says American reconnaissance aeroplanes reported that a new Japanese invasion fleet of great force had appeared off the north coast of Java. The fleet'consisted of a large number of transports protected by enemy warships. Allied bombers, including American Flying Fortresses, took off to attack the enemy ships. No further news of this fleet has been received. It is officially reported from Bandoeng that the Allied counterstroke has developed satisfactorily, but the situation in some parts of Java is obviously critical. Nevertheless the invaders are receiving hammer blows. All except military traffic is barred from the roads between Bandoeng and Indramayu, as the Allies have thrown in very strong forces against the enemy's main thrust. The Dutch have set fire to the seaport of Cheribon, on the north coast, which is threatened by the central Japanese landing at Indramayu. The scorched earth policy has been carried out as thoroughly as on the outer islands. The Japanese are finding the railways cut, bridges blown up and materials of military value destroyed. A special Order of the Day issued to the British forces in Java, which is described as the last stronghold of democracy in the South-west Pacific, emphasises that the Japanese are skilful and well-armed opponents, likely to be superior in numbers, who fight better in attack than in defence. "Therefore," it adds, "our best chance is to attack whenever we can. Attack and not defence must be our watchword."