BRAVELY OPPOSED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 February 1942, Page 3

BRAVELY OPPOSED

HEAVY JAPANESE AIR RAIDS ON JAVA LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. ' < LITTLE MILITARY DAMAGE DONE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY, February 4. A Batavia communique states: “With regard to Japanese bombardments yesterday of several towns and aerodromes in Java, it can be stated that the attacks were carried out by 70 to 80 Japanese bombers, under the protection of fighters. Warnings were given in time so that everywhere our fighters went into the air, while antiaircraft guns prepared for defence. “The attacks were mainly concentrated on Surabaya, Malang and Madioen. At Malang and Madioen aerodromes were bombed and machine-gunned and at Magetan machine-gunning also took place. “At Surabaya the main attacks were directed on the centre of the town. The Japanese lost presumably eight fighters and two bombers while the losses on our side were very considerable. It is certain that we lost more planes than pilots, but, because of the fact that several fighters did not land on the same aerodrome from which they started, accurate details are not yet available. “In the meantime Japanese aircraft also bombed and machine-gunned various other places, including several native villages such as Pegewetan, where three children were wounded; Margodjo, where one child was killed, and Margot, where one woman was killed, and at Parkadad, where two persons were killed. Bombs were also dropped on other native villages. Damage to military objectives was negligible. “Reports from the vicinity of Ambon (Amboina) prove that bitter fighting continues there, with the tide of battle turning from one side to the other. In the immediate vicinity of Balak Papan fighting also continues. Furthermore . there is mainly enemy reconnaissance activity over the outer provinces.

“In several parts of the archipelago ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy have been attacked by enemy air forces, but without results.”