HEAVY LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1942, Page 3

HEAVY LOSSES

SUFFERED BY THE JAPANESE OFF BALI But Landing Effected on Island CONTINUED ENEMY AIR RAIDS ON JAVA INVASION OF TIMOR CONFIRMED LONDON, February 23. It is now confirmed that the great air and naval battle off Bali was a triumph for the Allies. Although the threat to Java has not been lifted, there is no doubt that the Japanese have received an important check. Dutch forces are offeringstrong resistance to the enemy forces which have landed in Bali and occupied the airport. A great number of enemy cruisers, destroyers and transports were destroyed or damaged and only one enemy ship got away. A Batavia message states that Allied bombers lost little time in attacking the airport occupied by the Japanese in Bali. Details are not yet known. Japanese air formations are attacking Java as strongly as ever. Batavia, Surabaya and many other places were attacked yesterday. Batavia reports that damage was done here and there but that there were only a few casualties. Further raids on Japanese positions have been made by Allied bombers and in the Banka Straits an enemy vessel of more than 10,000 tons was hit and left on fire. Reports of a Japanese landing on Timor were confirmed by Batavia today. A communique says the enemy landed near Koepang and is meeting with fierce resistance. Messages from Canberra state that part of the Northern Territory, including /the town of Darwin, has been placed under military control. The Minister for the Army, Mr Forde, signed the necessary executive order in Canberra today. The Japanese invasion of Burma is being pressed with the utmost intensity in spite of heavy losses. The R.A.F. continues to give strong support to our troops. Fighting is reported between the Bilin River and the mouth of the Sittang River. This suggests that the enemy has made some progress towards the Sittang, the last river line covering Rangoon. The R.A.F. is supported in Burma by the Indian Air Force and the American Volunteer Group. The Indian Air Force has been continuously in action in Burma for fifteen weeks. General MacArthur reports that fighting has died down in the Batan Peninsula, in Luzon, and that even the shelling of American harbour defences, which has been intermittent for some days, has ceased entirely. AUSTRALIAN ATTACKS ON RABAUL Bombers of the Royal Australian Air Force attacked enemy targets in Rabaul last night and this morning. Heavy clouds covered the target area but the Australian planes dived down to attack. Hits were scored on the aerodrome and shipping in the harbour but the full results could not be seen. Towards dawn the Australian planes were attacked by Japanese fighters, but the Australians kept perfect formation.