HARD BLOWS AT JAPANESE

Southland Times, Issue 24684, 4 March 1942, Page 5

HARD BLOWS AT JAPANESE

INVASION OF JAVA ENEMY ADVANCE HELD MEANTIME (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. There is no news of any fresh developments in Java and no news of any further landings by the Japanese. The Japanese do not appear to have advanced beyond the distances achieved by their initial penetrations. The Allied forces continue to strike hard and it is reported that Dutch tanks have done good work. The Allied air force is also active but the Japanese troops arc receiving little air support. It is learned that important installations in Batavia have been destroyed, although there is not yet any direct threat to the city. American reconnaissance planes reported according to the British United Press correspondent, that a new Japanese invasion fleet in great force had

appeared off the North Java coast. It consisted of a large number of transports protected by enemy warships and was heading for the island. United States “Flying Fortresses” and other bombers took off to intercept the fleet. Seventy fast motor torpedo boats are estimated to be operatng in Dutch Indies waters. ENCOURAGEMENT The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dr Gerbrandy, has broadcast from London a message of encouragement to his compatriots in the Dutch East Indies. He said: “The East Indies are the vanguard of the world sea war. Rest assured that the Netherlands Government in London is doing its utmost to send you reinforcements to enable you to strike long and hard.” He spoke of Java as the richest and most strategically important of all the South Pacific islands. “It is in Java,” he said, “that the enemy becomes most vulnerable however superior his forces may be. Java offers the best opportunities for giving battle against the Japanese. It involves risks but these risks must be taken.”