SITUATION REVIEWED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 56, 7 March 1942, Page 5

SITUATION REVIEWED

i VAN MOOK’S STATEMENT i“NOT LEFT TO FIGHT ALONE” , ’Recd. 12.24 a.m.) Bandoeng, March 6 At last night s extraordinary sesi sion of the College of Delegates of i the Netherlands East Indies Volksraad, Dr. Van Mook gave a frank review of the present situation, in which he affirmed the intention of Java's military leaders to concentrate i heir forces for the defence of certain areas where geographical conditions enable Dutch and Allied troops to resist superior numbers. The Associated Press coiL.qiondent says this may be interpreter that, when the first phase of the battle oi Java —the slowing down of the enemy invasion troops in the north Java plains—will end, the main body of the Java Army will begin a determined long-range struggle in south Java's mountain regions while awaiting Allied actions against Japan's supply i lines in order to relieve the pressure on Java. ■ Dr. Van Mook put the losses in- | dieted on the enemy by Dutch forces. I .sunk or put out of action, at about i 15 cruisers, 10 destroyers. 40 transI port ships, five tankers and two submarines. I "These heavy losses,'’ said Dr. Van Mook, “do not include equally heavy losses inflicted on Japan by American and English ships, and American, Australian and British aircraft." He gave an assurance of Allied support and said: “On no account allow yourselves to be dominated by the thought that we have been left to fight alone." JAPANESE THRUST MAY DIVIDE ISLAND ADVANCE OF INVADERS Rugby, March 5. i A correspondent telephoned the following account of the position of Java this morning from Batavia:— In the middle of Java the Japanese have pushed 100 miles inland from their landing point of Rembang. the sole important communication junction from which railways and roads dead to all parts of the island. If the Japanese continue their adi vance here, says the correspondent. : they will in all likelihood go to the south coast, thus cutting off east Java, with its important naval base and supply vessels at Sourabaya, from ithe west of the island. In west Java the Japanese have expended their thrust, which is now : along a line roughly 30 miles inland .from their landing point at Indramayu. This town is an important load junction, and it is also on one of ithe two railway lines which connect Batavia with Bandoeng. The threat to the centre is growing : as the Japanese press on from their vantage point in Banean. There also iis danger from the right flank of the Japanese forces in middle Java. • Since the battle of Java began ■Dutch and Indonesian soldiers have ifought valiantly, but they had little protection against Japanese divebombers. The Japanese are in possession of a number of aerodromes near Java, and also one on the island itself. It is from these airfields that air support is given when the call comes from any commander in the field. The weak Allied air forces have [been able to give little support to our | troops their activities being confined i almost exclusively to attacking the 'Japanese-occupied airfields and JapaI nese warships and transpors.— i 8.0.W. DISPATCH TO JAVA Washington. March 5. The Secret of War, Mr. H. L. Stimson, told the Press that material air reinforcements had been sent to Java last week and the retirement o! I General Wavell from the South-west i Pacific Command had not altered, in I any way. the Anglo-American attitude |of intense support for the Dutch In •the present battle. BOMBS ON PORT MORESBY NEW APPOINTMENT FOR GORDON BENNETT Canberra, March 5. Port Moresby had two small airraids to-day. There were no casualties and very slight damage to buildings. The Air Minister, making this announcement, also refererd to yesterday's raid on Darwin. He said the enemy attack was confined to R.A.A.F. objectives but civil buildings were apparently undamaged. The Army Minister. Mr. F. M. Forde, told the of Representatives to-day that the Government would soon appoint Major-General Gordon Bennett to a major military post ’in Australia, but he would have a much-needed rest before assuming his new