SURABAYA BOMBED

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

SURABAYA BOMBED

ATTACKS CONTINUED VITAL DUTCH BASE IMPORTANCE TO ALLIES (Rec. 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, £eb. 4. The air attacks by the' Japanese on Surabaya, the great naval base in the Dutch East Indies, are felt here to be of the greatest significance in the development of the war in the Pacific. It is reported that new harbours have been built during the last year as well as a quay to accommodate large battleships. Repair shops have also been created. In peace-time, Surabaya was the great port for the despatch of exports, and a large number of ships called there.

A Japanese success would certainly be a setback to the Allied plans for re-establishing sea ascendancy, and there is no doubt that the value of Surabaya as an Allied base is highly appreciated here. A Batavia communique states: “In regard to Japanese bombardments yesterday of several towns and aerodromes in Java, it can be stated that the attacks were carried out by 70 or 80 Japanese bombers under the protection of fighters. Warnings were given in time, so that everywhere our fighters went into the air. while the anti-aircraft guns prepared for defence. “ The attacks were mainly concentrated on Surabaya, Malang, and Madioen. At Malang and Madioen the aerodromes were bombed and machinegunned. and at Magetan machine-gun-ning also took place. At Surabaya the main attacks were directed on the centre of the town. The Japanese lost presumably eight fighters and two bombers, while the losses on our side were very considerable. It is certain we lost more planes than pilots, but because of the fad mat several fighters did not land on the same aerodrome from which they started accurate details are not yet available. “In the meantime Japanese aircraft also bombed and machine-gunned various other places, including several native villages, such as Pegewetan, where three children were wounded; Margodjo, where one child was killed; Margot, where one woman was killed; and Parkadad, where two persons were killed. Bombs were also dropped on other native villages. The damage to military objectives was negligible.”