STAND IN MOUNTAINS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 March 1942, Page 4

STAND IN MOUNTAINS

PLANNED BV THE DUTCH SHIPLOAD OF PLANES LOST OFF JAVA. ENEMY’S HEAVY NAVAL LOSSES. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, March 6. The only British correspondent remaining in Java, Mr John Findon, of the “Daily Express,” states that the decisive phase of the Battle of Java may begin in a day or two, A report from Batavia states that a shipload of aircraft from America has been destroyed while off the coast of Java. Bandoeng reports that an extraordinary session last night of the College of Delegates of the Netherlands East Indies Volksraad, the Lieutenant Governor-General, Dr. Van Mook, gave a frank review of the present situation, in which he affirmed the intention of Java’s military leaders to concentrate their forces for the defence of certain areas where the geographic conditions would enable the Dutch and Allied troops to resist superior numbers. The American Associated Press correspondent in Bandoeng says this may be interpreted to mean that, when the first phase of the battle of Java —the' slowing down of the enemy invasion troops on the north Java plains —has ended, the main body of the army will begin a determined long-range struggle in the mountain regions of south Java while awaiting Allied actions against the Japanese supply lines in order to relieve the pressure on Java. Dr. Van Mook put the losses inflicted on the enemy by Dutch forces at about 15 cruisers, 10 destroyers, 40 transport ships, five tankers and two submarines sunk or otherwise put out of action. These heavy losses, hx said, did not include equally heavy losses inflicted on Japan by American and English ships and the American, Australian and British aircraft. He gave an assurance of Allied supI port and said: “On no account allow to be dominated by the thought that we have been left to fight alone.” GLOOMY REPORT NO REST FOR DEFENDERS OF JAVA. EXPOSED CONTINUOUSLY TO BOMBARDMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) BANDOENG, March 6. A communique says: “As a result of the enemy's great superiority in numbers and mastership of the air, our troops are exposed continuously to such a violent bombardment that they have been unable to rest for many days and are now gradually becoming overtired.”