Japanese Attack Bali

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22203, 21 February 1942, Page 5

Japanese Attack Bali

Strong Dutch Resistance Enemy Planes Again Near Darwin By Telegraph—Press Association (Received 11 p.m.) LONDON, February 19. A REUTER REPORT from Batavia says that a considerable Japanese expeditionary force attempted the occupation of the Island of Bali, which is 150 miles from Sourabaya. So far no details have been received of the success or failure of the attempt, but reports state that the Dutch are resisting energetically. Bali, famous haunt of artists and tourists, is densely populated, and is separated from Java by a narrow strait. Reuter’s also says that the expected all-out attack against east and west Java may come at any moment. Japanese air activity has been on a much greater scale. Japanese reports state that their troops have landed on both the Dutch and Portuguese portions of Timor, which is midway between Darwin and Celebes. Darwin had another alert yesterday, but no attack developed.

Later details regarding the previous day's raids on Darwin show that the opening raid lasted for an hour, and 72 twin-engined bombers, accompanied by fighters, participated. In the second raid. 21 bombers attacked. Four of them were brought down. Although shipping in the harbour was bombed the main attack was concentrated on the township itself. Of the 15 persons killed, nine were women. Fortunately, the evacuation of women and children had practically been completed before the raids commenced. Nearly 2000 had left the town. About 80 were left behind, these being mainly nurses at the oivic hospital. The main casualties in yesterday’s raids were at the post office in Darwin, where nine persons were killed and 11 injured. They included the postmaster, Mr H. O. Bald, his wife and daughter and three telephonists. They were in a trench shelter which received a direct hit. Six patients in one hospital were injured, one of whom died. Several ships in Darwin harbour were hit by bombs and damage was done to the wharves and buildings. The afternoon raid, which was carried out by 31 bombers unsupported by fighters, was directed against Air Force Installations, Damage at the aerodrome was not serious, but there were four casualties among service personnel. Some aircraft were damaged on the ground. At least six enemy aircraft were shot down, but whether by fighters or anti-aircraft fire has not yet been revealed. The first raid, which began at 10.35 am.

local time yesterday, Interrupted telephone and telegraph services, but immediately the raid ended emergency services were established some distance from the town. These operated for a considerable time until similar arrangements were made still farther away. The Minister for Air (Mr Drakeford) said there was little- doubt that some of the enemy aircraft came from a carrier, one of which was seen on February 8 north of Darwin, which led to the alert on that occasion. Twinengined bombers with a range of 150 Q miles obviously came from a land base in the islands recently acquired by the Japanese, the nearest of which is Amboina, 580 miles distant. He estimated that 50 tons of bombs were rained on Darwin yesterday. Banding Bombed A Batavia message says that the Japanese for the first time bombed Banding, the Dutch army headquarters, and the natural stronghold of Java, high in the mountains, 74 miles southeast of Batavia. Twelve Japanese bombers, flying low, bombed and machine-gunned the airfield while 20 enemy fighters circled protectively overhead. Some damage was done to the airfield. One Japanese bomber was probably shot down. Two Dutch fighters were lost, but one pilot is safe. It is now revealed that eight Japanese bombers and one fighter were shot down in the raid on Sourabaya on Wednesday. One Allied fighter was lost, but the pilot parachuted to safety. A United States War Department communique states:—ln the Netherlands East Indies, a formation of 16 intercepted 25 heavy Japanese bombers and two fighters, which flew over Sourabaya. in Java, in four successive waves. Five of the bombers and one fighter were destroyed. One of ours was shot down, but the pilot is safe.” A news agency announces that foreign troops, including Americans, have arrived in Java. Observers think that it will take the Japanese at least two weeks to prepare for the invasion of Java from Sumatra. The air fields in South Sumatra which

were blown up must be repaired. Throbbing native drupis will warn Java of the Japanese approach, although Batavia has an efficient siren alarm system. This bush telegraph service is a safeguard in the event of modern appliances breaking down. Arrivals from Palembang warmly pay tribute to the bravery of the Indonesian troops in the face of heavy odds. Their favourable weapon is the klewang (a native sword similar to a cutlass). They have been trained to shoot with their carbines held under the left armpit and at the same time swing the klewangs with the right hand. One group of 150 slaughtered a Japanese column at least twice as large and another group raced across an open field and wiped out a number of Japanese machine-gun nests. A Canberra message says that the Federal Parliament began a secret session yesterday afternoon to discuss the war situation. Mr Curtin, who has recovered from his illness, received an ovation. The Government issued new regulations taking power merely by a curt verbal order to Instruct any Australian to perform a specific duty. The Government believes that a situation may arise in which time may be too short for its commands to be given in any other way. New Zealand's Sympathy A Press Association message from Wellington says that the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) has sent the following message to the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr J. Curtin) “Please allow me on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand to express to you and through you to the Administrator and people of Darwin our sympathy with them in their ordeal. We here well know the courage and competence with which the whole of Australia will meet the attack. Kind regards.” Timor Landings Tire Tokio official radio stated that the Japanese effected landings at dawn to-day on both Dutch and Portuguese Timor. It added that the Information Board announced that the Government decided to-day to expel the British and Dutch troops from Timor Island but intends “to guarantee territorial integrity to Portuguese Far Eastern possessions arid the withdrawal of the Japanese forces as soon as their objectives are achieved." Finance Regulations The Federal Government’s Finance Regulations, gazetted yesterday, brought to an end what is known as free trading on the Stock Exchange (which applies to all Australian Exchanges) which meant that business locally as elsewhere was confined to Government Securities. The volume of share trading in future will depend on the extent to which Treasury permission is granted for the sale of securities for specific purposes. Members of the Stock Exchange consider it would be safe to settle for all share transactions effected to the close of business yesterday. The call room of the Sydney Stock Exchange to-day presented a deserted appearance. The afternoon scene was unprecedented in the history of the Exchange. Authoritative opinion in financial circles is that the Government is acting too ruthlessly and there are likely to be repercussions in Parliament. Exchange reports have now ceased.