LATE NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24836, 9 February 1942, Page 6

LATE NEWS

DEFENCE OF JAVA PREPARATIONS IN HAND LESSONS FROM SINGAPORE (Rec. 2 a.m.)) BATAVIA, Feb. 8. Realising that a Japanese blow at the heart of the Netherlands East Indies cannot be long delayed, the Dutch are grimly preparing to make a stand that will decide the future of these wealthy islands. The naval spokesman said he believed the Dutch can profit from the British experience in Malaya and prevent an outflanking movement. He said that Japanese landings in the shallow Malayan waters where only the lightest craft can be used should have been risky.. He added that it might have ' been possible to prevent infiltrations in spite of enemy air superiority had the rivers and creeks been guarded sufficiently from the land. He suggested that troops equipped with automatic weapons and hidden along the coast might have been better able to resist the landings than sea forces. ,■'.;'.." He added that the Indies, which have many river mouths s and creeks in the vicinity, of vital strategic points, should learn a lesson from the British failure and protect the flanks of the defending forces. He stated that Singapore's elimination as the supporting point of the British fleet had not caused the A.B.C.D. front to collapse, although it made the situation in the western part of the front serious. It was now of the utmost importance to deny the Japanese the use of Singapore because its occupation wbuld greatly endanger the western part of the Java Sea and South Sumatra. JUGOSLAV GUERRILLAS (Rec. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 8. The Moscow radio says that Jugoslav guerrillas near Kraljevo wiped out a German expedition sent to capture them. They killed 160 Germans, and captured their equipment. EGYPTIAN PARLIAMENT DISSOLUTION ANNOUNCED (Rec. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb,. 8. The Egyptian Parliament was dissolved to-day. It will reassemble on March 13 after the elections. Nahas Pasha has been appointed Military Governor.