HOLDING OUT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24834, 6 February 1942, Page 5

HOLDING OUT

DUTCH GARRISONS BORNEO AND AMBOINA FIERCE FIGHTING REPORTED WASHINGTON, (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) Feb. 4, A Batavia message states that the garrisons at Pontianak (on the west coast of. Borneo), Balik Papan (on the east coast of Borneo, .facing Macassar Strait), and on the island of Amboina. in the extreme south of the Malacca group, between Celebes and New Guinea, are still holding out against the enemy. Fierce fighting is proceeding on the outer islands. Details are lacking. . The Japanese attempts to create panic amongst the native population of Java have failed everywhere. Reports from the vicinity boina prove that bitter fighting continues there, with the tide of battle turning from one side to the other. In the immediate vicinity of Balik Papan fighting also continues. Furthermore, there is mainly enemy reconnaissance activity over the outer provinces. ■ . v In several parts of the archipelago ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy have been attacked by enemy air forces, but without results. ENEMY ATTACir REPULSED FIGHTING IN PHILIPPINES RUGBY, Feb. 4. A Washington War Department communique states that on the night of February 3 elements of the 16th (Kimura) Division made a local attack on our left flank in Batan. The attack was sharply repulsed. Our troops continned to mop up the tattered remnants of the Japanese who previously landed on the west coast or infiltrated behind our lines. These were enemy troops from the Tatori group and Kimura divisions, and were found in isolated -pockets. No reinforcements had been able to reach them. The enemy had attempted to supply them intermittently with food and ammunition dropped by parachute. Most of these supplies, however, fell into our hands. Japanese prisoners of war expressed great surprise at the humane treatment they received at our hands. They said they had been told that we would execute all prisoners. On our right there has been little action in the past 24 hours, and enemy activity over our lines has been limited to a few sporadic bombing attacks which did no damage. PORT MORESBY ANOTHER ENEMY RAID (Rec. 0.30 a m;) LONDON, Feb. 5. The Japanese again raided Port Moresby, in New Guinea, to-day. Thirty bombs were dropped. Some fell into the sea, but others fell on buildings. No casualties have been reported. The raid was carried out by four flying boats.