FAILED TO ACT

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

FAILED TO ACT

JAPAN'S WEAKEST SPOT EXTENDED SEA LANES SCATHING INDICTMENT (Reed. 5.35 p m.) NEW YOBK Mar 2 "The only place wheie the -Japanese can effectively be checked is at sea, by naval forces," said Dr. van Mook, Lieutenant-Governor-General of the Netherlands Indies, in an exclusive interview at Bandoeng with Mr. George Weller, correspondent of the New York -Post. "When I was in the United States recently," ht said, "I tried to explain the consequence of failing to act promptly against Japan's only vulnerable point, her extended sea-lanes of communication before occupation bases were established, but, speaking frankly, the situation has been allowed to deteriorate, not so much through insufficiency and tardiness in sending materials and reinforcements as the failure to adopt offensive tactics when most, needed. "This has been a war of lost chances and it is difficult to apportion the responsibility for these blunders. We Dutch deserve some blame, becanse we prepared too slowly. Americans also are partly responsible., because repeated suggestions that Japan be struck, even with meagre forces, five weeks ago, when six unprotected lines of communication had been opened southward, were greeted with inaction. The British likewise share the responsibility. Had the campaign in Malaya enjoyed better leadership by the Navy and Army, Java would have been given enough time." ' Dr. van Mook said the circumstances of the imposition of an Allied command upon the Dutch forces were partly unavoidable, but the effects strategically were deplorable. TIRELESS R.A.F. MEN SORTIES AGAINST SHIPS ENEMY FIGHTER RAMMED LONDON, Mar. 2 Further details of the important part played by the Roys-1 Air Force in the all-night attack on the Japanese invasion fleet off the coast of Java on Saturday are given in an Air Ministry bulletin, says the British official wireless. Some of the aircraft made as many as five sorties, returning to their bases just long enough to take on fresh bomb loads and to ream munition their guns. It was iiot necessary for them to refuel owing to the nearness of the Japanese ships. Several crews made three journeys of attacks before handing their aircraft over to relief crews. The bombing attacks began at dusk on Saturday. The enemy transports were between 50 and 60 miles off shore with protecting naval vessels. A high moon gave plenty of light, but general visibility was spoiled by sea haze. One pilot saw his bombs hit a large ship, which almost immediately exploded. An Australian' sergeant-pilot attacked a group of transports, dropping his bombs on the bows of one of the transports. He was then himself attacked by six enemy night fighters. He flew straight out to sea until he had shaken off the enemy, then turned and eventually landed safely in a paddy field out of fuel. Sergeant-Pilot Adam, of the Dutch Air F'orce, described a thrilling experience when lie was compelled to ram a Japanese fighter. He was with a group of fighters which intercepted '2B enemy bombers and fighters en route to Bandoeng. He dived out of the clouds to find himself almost on ton of ail enemy fighter. "It was as dangerous to try to got out of my dive as it. was to ram him," lie said, "so I decided on the latter course after giving him a couple of bursts. There was not much left of him after that. "My Brewster lost a wing and went into a spin. I managed to get rid of the safety belt to force myself out of the cockpit, and then I parachuted. It was my first jump, and a great experience. I came down on a nice sunny day with dog-fights going on all around. 1 had a grand view, and landed on the top of a tree. I climbed down and found I was 0.K." JAPANESE REVERSE LANDING PARTY SENT BACK CHUNGKING, .Var 2 A Chinese communique announced that the Japanese were repulsed attelanding near Siangihan, in Chekiang Province. The landing was made from 10 small steamers coni'oyed by three warships. After encountering fierce resistance the Japanese retreated by steamers. Observers _ believed that the Japanese were searching for possible secret air bases.