JAPANESE RAIDERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 February 1942, Page 4

JAPANESE RAIDERS

MET BY GROUND FIRE & FIGHTERS LARGE FORMATION ATTACKS SURABAYA. AT LEAST TWO PLANES SHOT DOWN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY, February 26. Dutch headquarters in Batavia states: “On February 24 we successfully bombed enemy-occupied aerodromes near Palembang, causing large fires. It was observed that oil installations which were set on fire on February 15 by bur forces were still fiercely burning, nine days after the destruction started., Although our aircraft were violently harrassed by enemy antiaircraft fire and attacked on their way back by fighters; all returned safely, 1 “Yesterday another attack was made on Palembang in which one enemy fighter presumably was shot down. One of our bombers did not return. “Naval air forces bombed enemy storage yards near Oosthaven, in South Sumatra, where fires were started. “The enemy raided aerodromes and ports in Java. In an attack on an aerodrome in West Java, one fighter and one bomber were shot down by antiaircraft fire. We lost two fighters, but one pilot is safe. A large number of Japanese bombers attacked another aerodrome in West Java. No buildings or aircraft were hit and there were no casualties. In another raid a small number of petrol drums were hit, while a fighter about to land had to make an emergency landing and was slightly damaged. “In an attack on Tandjong Priok. the port of Batavia, by a great number of bombers, escorted by two petrol dumps were set on fire. Otherwise all the bombs fell into the sea. The attackers were met by strong antiaircraft fire'and some were presumably hit.

“Surabaya was attacked by a large formation of bombers, under the escort of fighters. A shed near the harbour was set on fire, while damage was done to houses. Seven civilians were killed and 19 seriously wounded. Our fighters '.shot down one bomber and one fighter land probably one more bomber and s'orie fighter. All our planes returned safely.

“Fighting in South Celebes continues with unabated fierceness. Sinking, in West Borneo, has been occupied by superior enemy forces, which advanced from Pontianak. The Netherlands commander ignored a Japanese order to surrender or be killed and has reported that he will continue the fight in West Borneo.

“Although no certainty exists, it can be assumed that the island of Banka has been occupied by the enemy and also part of the residencies of Benkoelen and Pandjong Karang, in South Sumatra.

“Japanese headquarters state that the conquest of Amboina Island was completed by February 23. Irrespective of the truth—it is quite possible that our troops continue to fight— the Japanese report shows that the battle lasted for at least three weeks. “An enemy fighter which attacked a naval patrol vessel was shot down by the vessel’s guns.”