NEXT TARGET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 January 1942, Page 3

NEXT TARGET

INDICATIONS OF JAPANESE THREAT OIL PORT IN DUTCH BORNEO. ENEMY FORCES MOVING DOWN COAST. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) BATAVIA, January 15. Reports indicate that the next target of the Japanese will be Balikpapan, the second most important oil port in Dutch Borneo. Following the capture of Tarakan Island, Japanese naval forces and transports are now moving down the east coast in the direction of Balikpapan and Dutch and United States bombers have begun to attack the force.

Dutch troops have opened a counteroffensive against the Japanese land forces on a line near the border of Dutch Borneo and Sarawak. So far the Dutch troops are holding their own.

A high military spokesman in Rangoon said that Burma is considering an offensive against the Japanese, but is also preparing to meet a possible simultaneous Japanese offensive against Burma and Singapore. He emphasised thatU Burma would certainly be subjected to further and possibly heavier air attacks. The situation in Malaya and at Singapore would have a tremendous bearing on the future course of the war, and there could be no doubt about the determination of the defenders to hold them. A Rangoon communique stated that the enemy bombed an R.A.F. aerodrome north of Rangoon and also Tavoy. There were no casualties or damage. The R.A.F. destroyed an enemy plane at the Meshod aerodrome in Thailand.