JAPANESE BATTLESHIP SUNK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22183, 29 January 1942, Page 5

JAPANESE BATTLESHIP SUNK

Battle Of Macassar Strait (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 27. Information issued by the United States Navy Department indicates that the action against the Japanese convoy in the Strait of Macassar, between Borneo and Celebes, which commenced last Friday, is continuing. It is now stated that when the convoy started out, it consisted of 100 vessels. Since then its size has been reduced by more than one third by the continuous attacks by American and Dutch warships and planes. It is estimated that the transports which have been sunk carried at least 25,000 troops. A large Japanese warship, probably a battleship, is now known to have been sunk, it was revealed in Batavia to-day. The vessel was sunk by a Dutch submarine attack, and only a portion of the bow is now showing above water. A communique issued from General Sir Archibald Wavell’s headquarters stated that American Flying Fortresses delivered further attacks on Japanese ships in Macassar Strait. One large transport was set on fire and sunk and a cruiser was straddled by sticks of

bombs. Japanese aircraft which attempted to intercept the fortresses were roughly handled, two being shot down and another damaged. All the Allied planes returned safely. American opinion is that the Japanese suffered such a heavy deieat that they may have to revise their whole offensive strategy in the SouthWest Pacific. The 100 ship convoy is understood to have included 30 troopships. Breaking a five-day silence, Tokio official radio now mentions the battle for the first time with an admission that four Japanese transports were lost last Friday in landing operations at Balik Papan. The United States Navy Department reveals that in the Japanese attacks on Midway Island, a cruiser and a destroyer were seriously damaged. The Japanese attacked in moonlight. Searchlights picked up the warships, and during the short - time that the lights held them, the shore batteries scored direct hits. Mr F. M. Forde, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, announced that no further news had been received from Rabaul. where Australian troops were believed to be holding out in the wild impenetrable country of New Britain. Communication was very difficult but every effort was being made to obtain information. The Chinese military leaders report that the Japanese are employing about 400,000 men in the South Pacific, distributed thus: Malaya 125,000 troops, Philippines 150,000, Thailand (for action against Burma) 75,000 and Indo-China 40,000. It is estimated that the Japanese are using 3000 first-line planes. The Netherlands Foreign Minister, Dr. E. N. Kieffens, is on his way to Washington to confer with American and Allied authorities on problems concerning the warfare in the Pacific. He also hopes to have the opportunity to study American trends of opinion on post-war problems. The Lieutenant-General of the Netherlands East Indies, Dr. Van Mook, is already in Washington and MajorGeneral Dyxhoorn and Rear-Admiral Termitjtelen, Chief of the Netherlands Naval Staff, also went there from London. Michielsvan Verduynen, Netherlands Minister in London, will be in charge of Foreign Affairs during the absence of Dr. Van Kieffens.