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Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1942, Page 3

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FOR ENEMY LANDING IN BALI MAY BE PYRRHIC VICTORY. INVASION FLEET DESTROYED OR DAMAGED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, February 23. The Netherlands War Department has announced that part of Bali Island, including the aerodrome at Den Passar has been occupied by the Japanese, but for this conquest the Japanese had to pay a very high price. Owing to strong action by Allied air and sea forces it can be assumed that the fleet which the Japanese sent out for the conquest of Bali has. for the greater part, been destroyed or badly damaged. A single ship which succeeded in escaping destruction has fled. The Netherlands Information Bureau adds that the magnificent successes of the Allied sea and air forces justify a belief that the landing at Bali means to the Japanese a Pyrrhic victory, like the conquest of the burning homes of Tarakan, Balik, Papan and Palembang. A Batavia communique states: “During yesterday Japanese aircraft have been extremely active, bombing and machine-gunning many aerodromes in Java. The aerodromes in the vicinity of Batavia, Burenzorg, Djockakarta, Surayaba and Malang have been attacked and some damage has been done here and there. Three or four Japanese fighters were shot down. There were only a few casualties. An attack by our bombers on enemy targets near Palembqng produced satisfactory results. “Japanese troops, towards the end of last week, attacked Koepang (in Timor). The enemy is meeting with strong resistance.”