BATAVIA EVACUATED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 March 1942, Page 3

BATAVIA EVACUATED

STRUGGLE IN JAVA GRIMLY INTENSIFIED

CONCENTRATION ON DEFENCE OF BANDOENG

LITTLE MOVEMENT IN OTHER PACIFIC THEATRES

MAIN JAVA BATTLE EXPECTED AROUND BANDOENG Japanese Drive Across Island INVADERS POSSESSED OF VIRTUAL MONOPOLY IN AIR DEVELOPING THREAT TO SURABAYA LONDON, March 6. While the Dutch continue strongly to resist the invaders in Java, it is announced that Batavia has been evacuated. All important works in the city have been destroyed and many of the population of 600,000 have left the capital to continue the struggle in other parts of the island. The main battle in Java is expected to take place around Bandoeng, which is surrounded by mountains. As against the withdrawals and retirements elsewhere it is reported that the Japanese were driven out of a position north of Bandoeng. All reports emphasise that in the air the Japanese now have a virtual monopoly. In their drive southward from the north coast, the Japanese have almost reached the southern coast, cutting off the eastern part of Java, in which the port and naval base of Surabaya is situated. As a whole, the news from Java is grave. The Japanese have overrun almost the whole of the rich north coast and have occupied Batavia. They have also penetrated across the centre of the island to within ten miles of the southern coast. A Dutch communique states that the defending troops are showing signs of strain after several days ’ fighting. Reuter’s correspondent states that the Japanese in Java outnumber the Allied forces by five to one, not only in men, but in tanks, artillery, mortars and other armaments. The bold Dutch counter-offensive has failed and the Japanese are now seriously threatening the outer defences of Bandoeng. The withdrawal from Batavia, it is hoped, will give greater freedom for the main battle which is expected to take place round Bandoeng. The defenders hope to hold the Japanese at some suitable point. Reinforcements which Java expected to arrive in the second half of February did not come. There is no way of escape for the island’s defenders and it is a fight to the last. There is little news of Japanese troops in the Surabaya area, but the town is being ceaselessly raided by Japanese planes. The Dutch have already applied the scorched earth policy in Surabaya. Guerilla fighting continues in Timor, Sumatra, Borneo and the Celebes. The Japanese control is confined in the main to the ports and aerodromes, but the Dutch defenders have no means of communication. No change is reported in Burma, but the threat to Rangoon remains. In the Philippines it is believed that Japanese plans for a resumption of the offensive in the Batan Peninsula have been dislocated by General MacArthur’s successful and destructive air attack on enemy transports in Subic Bay.