TARAKAN LOST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 January 1942, Page 3

TARAKAN LOST

Attack in Overwhelming Force DESTRUCTION OF OILFIELD INSTALLATIONS SUCCESSFUL AIR ATTACKS ON JAPANESE SHIPS LONDON, January 13. News from Batavia confirms the surrender of the rich oilbearing island of Tarakan, off the north-east coast of Borneo. The whole of the oilfield installations and plant were destroyed prior to the surrender. . A Netherlands communique states that the Tarakan garrison had to surrender in face of heavy Japanese attacks made in overwhelming force. A small part of the garrison escaped to the mainland of Borneo.

Netherlands planes continue to attack the Japanese concentration of ships off Tarakan. The Eoyal Dutch Military Air Force scored two direct hits on two transports off Tarakan and the Royal Australian Air Force, operating against the Japanese landings on Celebes Island, hit a cruiser and a light cruiser, besides a flying boat, while two Japanese fighters were shot down in flames and another damaged.

The attack on the flying boat was made by a Hudson on Saturday and five other Hudsons hit a cruiser. The Hudsons continued the attack on Sunday on a light cruiser and a destroyer. The cruiser was hit twice and two fighters were shot down and a third damaged. All the Australian Hudson aircraft returned safely. Yesterday, however, when making another attack, eight Hudsons met a superior formation of fighters. Two Hudsons were lost and two more are missing.

The enemy has made air raids on sbme of the smaller islands in the Netherlands East Indies. In an island in the Moluccas fifteen civilians were killed and 25 injured. Petrol and copra stores, besides buildings, were set on fire.