CONFLICT IN JAVA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 March 1942, Page 3

CONFLICT IN JAVA

ENEMY MAKING SOME HEADWAY

AGAINST STUBBORN DUTCH RESISTANCE » — —= EVENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND BURMA

HEAVILY OUTNUMBERED

THE DEFENDERS OF JAVA Outlook Described as Gloomy SPLENDID STROKE BY MACARTHUR’S SMALL AIR FORCE ENEMY BASE DEVASTATED AND SHIPS SUNK LONDON, March 4. The defenders of Java, are still stubbornly attacking the Japanese invaders, but the enemy continues to make headway at some points and is exploiting his numerical superiority, particularly in the air. Fewer Allied planes were about today. Both armies are using tanks and Japanese planes are strafing roads and airfields. The scorched earth policy has been applied and the principal devastations have now been carried out. A Netherlands spokesman in London described the situation as gloomy. The Japanese at present hold command of the sea and also hold air bases commanding the sea routes along which reinforcements to Java have to pass. The Netherlands Government has instructed all commanders to fight to the last. In Burma our troops, with tank supports, have been in action with the enemy 40 miles north-east of Rangoon. Bombers made a low-level attack on enemy staff cars and other transport. The bombers were attacked by fighters, one of which was shot down for the loss of one of our aircraft. Chinese shore batteries and machine-gun nests repulsed a Japanese landing attempt on the Chinese coast opposite Formosa. In the Philippines General MacArthur’s small air force made a surprise sweep over Suvic Bay. Several Japanese vessels were destroyed, including one of 10,000 tons and another of 8,000 tons. Many smaller craft were sunk or damaged. Large fires were started in the docks, followed by heavy explosions among enemy stores. Japanese planes were over Darwin today. Air Force installations were machine-gunned, but there were no casualties.