COSTLY LANDING

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21653, 13 February 1942, Page 3

COSTLY LANDING

FIGHT FOR AMBOINA BASE JAPANESE LOSE WARSHIPS (Lulled Pleas Assn.—Elec Tel. Co/»yrlg-dt> LONDON, Feb. 12 The attack on the Dutch island naval base of Amboina, between Celebes and New Guinea, cost the Japanese three cruisers, one destroyer and a submarine, states a Batavia communique. Earlier reports stated that one cruiser and possibly another had been sunk and a submarine destroyed. One cruiser was destroyed by coastal batteries, and the remaining two were blown up in Dutch minefields. The submarine was also blown up in a minefield while submerged. Guerilla fighting in Borneo, where the Japanese were infiltrating down both coasts to attack Banjamassin, has provided the tough Dutch jungle fighters with a grim sense cf humour. “ We give them no rest by night or day,” said one. “ We swarm round their camps, fire a few shots and then disappear ghostlike in the jungle. “ An Indies sergeant, with a passion for shooting officers, always waits to see which look the best fed and shout the loudest, because he reckons they are probably the most senior. He bagged three in one house. The remainder hurriedly left by the back door.” A small patrol of Punjabis found some Japanese bathing. They opened Fire on two officers standing on the river bank, who took to their heels. The Punjabis killed 26 Japanese.