JAPANESE THREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 February 1942, Page 3

JAPANESE THREAT

SOUTHWARD DRIVE FROM PALEMBANG MOVE TOWARD SUNDA STRAIT. POSITION ELSEWHERE IN INDIES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) BATAVIA, February 19. The Japanese are driving from Palembang toward Oosthaven and the port of Telok Betong, which would bring them within 150 miles of Batavia. From Oosthaven they will spread along the coast of south Sumatra, bringing up artillery to the region of Sunda Strait, and making a passage of that vital waterway linking the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean as hazardous for Allied shipping as Singapore’s fall has made the more northerly Malacca Strait. Apart from the position in the Oosthaven region, the position elsewhere is as follows: — In Borneo the Japanese have captured Pointianak in the west, Balik Papan and Samarinda in the east, while Banjermasin in the south may already be in their hands. In the Celebes they have won the Minahassa and Kendari regions and are attacking Macassar from three points. Macassar is probably already lost.

From Banjermasin it is only 250 miles to the Surabaya naval base and from Macassar it is only 450 miles to Koepang, in Dutch Timor.

remained at his post till the flames were licking round him. When he was compelled to jump overboard he got ashore and took refuge in the hills, since when Mr Howard had not seen him. He had reason to believe that the Norwegian was both injured and burnt.