EFFECTIVE BLOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 February 1942, Page 4

EFFECTIVE BLOW

v STRUCK BY ALLIED NAVAL FORCES AGAINST JAPANESE FLEET OFF BALI. I NUMBER OF ENEMY SHIPS SUNK OR DAMAGED. (Received This Day, 11.45 p.m.) BATAVIA, February 22. Allied naval forces under Admiral Helfrich struck a powerful blow in a night attack against the Jaoanese invasion fleet Off Bali. Dutch and United States warships sank one enemy cruiser and damaged two cruisers and twp destroyers. In addition, Allied bombers sank a large transport, set fire to a cruiser, scored direct hits on two cruisers and a destroyer and also hit four enemy ships engaged in landing operations near Den Passar in Bali. These operations will certainly delay the Japanese advance. The Dutch forces inBali are reported to be holding their own. It is unofficially reported that the Japanese are in Den Passar. but have not captured the airport, which is their main objective. RESULTS IN BRIEF ALLIED AIR & NAVAL ATTACKS. DURING TWO DAYS & NIGHT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.35 p.m.) RUGBY, February 22. Some of the results of the fierce and sustained Allied attack on the Japanese invasion forces off Bali can be summarised, in diary form, as follows: Cn Thursday, Allied bombers hit two cruisers; also transports and four enemy fighters shot down. On Thursday night, Allied warships sank a cruiser and two destroyers and badly damaged one, perhaps two, more cruisers. The Allies lost one destroyer and another Allied warship was damaged. On Friday, Allied bombers damaged four cruisers, sank one transport and damaged six others. The Allies and the Japanese each lost four planes. It was subsequently announced that the number of enemy transports sunk totalled eight. The number of destroyers and transports damaged is unconfirmed. Thus the Japanese losses so far ascer-

tained are one cruiser, two destroyers and eight transports sunk, and five cruisers and an unconfirmed number of destroyers and transports damaged. BATTLE IN BURMA RESOLUTE RESISTANCE TO INVADERS. ALLIED AIRCRAFT ACTIVE. (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, February 22. The Rangoon radio announces that fighting continues between the Sittang and Bilin Rivers and our troops are still inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Allied aircraft are active over the front'line, giving powerful support to the ground forces. Japanese bombers raided Mamymo, in Central Burma and did slight damage.