EAST INDIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 110, 13 May 1941, Page 5

EAST INDIES

DETERMINED TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT AIR FORCE’S IMPROVEMENT. (Recd. 5.5 p.m.) Batavia, May 11. Three hundred thousand Dutch, 1,500,000 Chinese, and over 60,000,000 natives in the East Indies entered the second year of the war against Germany with solemn declarations to continue the fight with Britain until the aggressor is defeated The allegiance of the natives to the British and Dutch cause was demonstrated by special services in all mosques throughout the East Indies. At Batavia’s chief mosque, the Regent of Batavia addressed the faithful, saying: "The East Indies will offer the strongest opposition if attacked, without consideration from which side the attack comes.”

Reviewing the strengthening of the East Indies defences, General J. Berenschot, Commander-in-Chief of the Netherlands East Indies Army, said: "Our Air Force has received important reinforcements, increasing the safety of large towns against air attacks. Supplies of new aircraft are still coming forward. Our squadrons are patrolling the whole Archipelago. These aircraft operate from bases well defended by infantry, from which they car refuel and load bombs when required. Widespread fuel and ammunition dumps laid down by the army have been reinforced with men, arms and mechanised equipment. Mobility has been increased with armoured cars and hundreds of motor transport vehicles. In addition to the standing army, a second army, including town guards and country guards, is rapidly being formed. New fortifications in many places in the Archipelago have greatlv increased our defensive power. --U.P.A.

Charles 1.. William Wallace, St. Thomas Moore (Chancellor of England), Guy Fawkes, and Warren Hast-

ings. The roof which has been bombed was of great historical significance.

The British Museum, a huge block of buildings between Russell Square and Bedford Square, contains the greatest collection of antiques in the world and also the most important, library. The building, which has been extended, was erected on the site of Montagu Hoi«ae, between. 1823 and 1855. Its collections are world-fa-mous and will, no doubt, as far as possible, have already been moved to places of greater safety. It is reported that the fire caused by an incendiary bomb burning through the roof in one part was prevented from spreading extensively.