AIR ACTIVITY OVER JAVA

Southland Times, Issue 24681, 28 February 1942, Page 5

AIR ACTIVITY OVER JAVA

PREPARATIONS FOR ATTACK FORMIDABLE DEFENCE (Rec. 5.30 p.m.) BATAVIA, Feb. 26. During the past few days there has been a great deal of enemy air activity over Java, in preparation, it is assumed, for a full scale attack on the island. In the interior of Java there are fortified positions which look as though they will be very difficult to overcome, writes’ Mr H. R. Knickerbocker, The Chicago Sun correspondent who is now in Java. Experts who have just arrived in Java from the Malay Peninsula say that nowhere else have the Japanese had to face such carefully and scientifically arranged defences. There are lines and complexes of lines, vast quantities of barbed wire and there are deep tank pits. Above all tower the formidable volcanoes, black and forbidding. It is over these mountains that the Japanese will have to come for their ultimate battle. According to a message from Washington Mr H. L. Stimson, Secretary for War, said that the Japanese had not yet mentioned the extent of their losses in the desperate battle for Java where the united nations were putting up a magnificent fight and were inflicting appalling losses on the enemy. The Dutch authorities in London say it can now be revealed that some time ago contingents of the Netherlands brigade, serving in Britain, departed for the East Indies.

AIR RAIDS A large number of Japanese bombers attacked an aerodrome in West Java. No buildings or aircraft were hit and there were no casualties. In another raid a small number of petrol drums was hit, a*nd a fighter about to land had to make an emergency landing and was slightly damaged. In an attack on Tandjong Priok, the port of Batavia, by a great number of bombers escorted by fighters two petrol dumps were set on fire, Otherwise, all the bombs fell in the sea. The attackers were met by strong anti-aircraft fire, and some were presumably hit. The naval base of Sourabaya was attacked by a large formation of bombers under an escort of fighters. A shed near the harbour was set on fire, and damage was done to houses. Seven civilians were killed and 19 seriously wounded. Dutch fighters shot down one bomber and one fighter, and probably one more bomber and .one fighter. All the Dutch planes returned safely. The Dutch Air Force successfully bombed enemy-occupied aerodromes near Palembang causing large fires. It was observed that the oil installations which were set on fire on February 15 by the Dutch were still fiercely burning nine days after the destruction began. Naval air forces have bombed enemy storage yards near Oosthaven in the south of Sumatra where fires were started. IN OTHER ISLANDS Fighting in South Celebes continues with unabated fierceness. Sinkang, in West Borneo, has been occupied by superior enemy forces, which advanced from Pontianak. The Netherlands commander ignored a Japanese order to surrender or be killed, and has reported that he is continuing to fight in West Borneo. Although no certainty exists it can be assumed that the island of Banka has been occupied by the enemy, also part of the residencies of Benkoelen and Pandjong Karang in South Sumatra. Japanese headquarters state that the conquest of Amboing Island

was completed by last Monday. Irrespective of the truth of this—it is quite possible that Dutch troops continue to fight—the Japanese report shows that the battle lasted at least three weeks. An enemy fighter, which attacked a naval patrol vessel, was shot down by the vessel’s guns.