HEROIC EFFORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 March 1942, Page 3

HEROIC EFFORTS

MADE BY LIMITED ALLIED FORCES IN BATTLE OF JAVA SEA. NETHERLANDS COMMUNIQUE. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 1. The Netherlands East Indies Headquarters at Bandoeng has issued the following communique, concerning the Battle of the Java Sea: “In the course of a February 27 reconnaissance patrols informed us that a Japanese transport fleet, the main body of which consisted of over forty vessels, was sailing toward East Java. Accompanying this fleet were groups of sea forces and the whole was covered by a strong fleet, proceeding more to the south, consisting of approximately 20 warships, some of which were heavy cruisers, with 20 centimeter or eightinch guns. Then we ordered part of the Allied squadron operating in the eastern part of the Java Sea, to attack the enemy, inflict as much damage as possible and try to slow down the landings, which must be expected since it was impossible to attack the enemy transports without making contact with the Japanese covering forces. We engaged the enemy though he was stronger and larger. “Late in the afternoon a fierce engagement began, with the fleets about twelve miles apart. Simultaneously destroyers went into the battle from both sides. In this phase of the sea battle only one Allied cruiser received any important damage. Although its disablement was only temporary, this cruiser left the battle line. Moreover one of our destroyers was hit by an enemy salvo and sank. As a result of an artillery engagement with bigger craft—we hit the enemy several times —a Japanese cruiser of the Mogami Class was set on fire, another cruiser apparently was considerably damaged, while still another enemy cruiser sank. It was observed that at least three Japanese destroyers remained behind, either burning or sinking, when the enemy continued on its way at the highest speed. During the night action —quite different from the long-range, day time battle—two Netherlands cruisers made contact with the enemy and went down fighting. These ships had received orders from the Com-mander-in-Chief to attack the enemy by all means, even at the cost of the ships themselves, so as to inflict as much damage as possible on the Japanese before the start of the landing. Reports indicate that both the Netherlands ships were the victims of torpedo hits. It it possible that, in the course of a gallant action, they advanced into a line of enemy submarines. In the course of the battle, which was fought off the island of Bawean, the enemy transports retreated northward, while the warships were pressed in a westerly direction by the Allied forces steaming up from the south-east. In addition it is officially reported that Allied planes, during the daylight fighting, sank one transport, blew up one warship, set one ship on fire and damaged one other. Another Dutch destroyer engaged in an uneven battle with two Japanese cruisers, but fought until she was forced to beach in a sinking condition. (Other sources report that at least fifteen Japanese transports were sunk.) It is estimated unofficially that the landing forces may approximate 60,000 Japanese, compared with 100,000 Allied defenders, but there is reason to believe, from the fierceness of the fighting that has developed on land, that the invaders have suffered heavy losses in personnel. STRONG DEFENCES DUTCH FIGHTING WELL AGAINST ODDS. AN ADMIRAL’S SURVEY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 28. Rear-Admiral Baron de Vos Van St. Enwijk, of the Royal Netherlands Navy, in a speech today said that in the Far East the Dutch were fighting well against heavy odds. “We are not prepared to allow one inch of our country to be occupied without a fight,” he declared. “For 25 years we have known that we should be attacked by Japan, and we have been preparing to meet it. We could not build many big boats, but we have good destroyers, good submarines, and good sailors to man them. “We have already suffered great losses in men and ships, but we have inflicted far heavier casualties, upsetting the Japanese timetable and her future strategy. “It would be a serious blow to lose Java, but our defences there are particularly strong and are designed to meet any conceivable form of attack.” ENEMY CLAIMS .NEW YORK, February 28. Tokio official radio stated: “The Imperial headquarters has announced Ihat one enemy cruiser and three destroyers were sunk off Java at dusk yesterday during a battle between the main Japanese naval forces and a combined fleet of the Netherlands East Indies and United States.” It added: “The Japanese forces are now pursuing the fleeing enemy fleet.” The Japanese fleet, it said, spotted the enemy at 6 p.m. yesterday, and a fierce engagement ensued.