Evening star., 1942-03-15
Allies Reveal Loss Of II Ships>
Including u. S. Cruiser Houston
In Last-Ditch Battle for Java
8 Jap Worcroft
Reported Sunk
Or Damaged
(Tert OF Conmunique on Page A-4.)
Bv CLAUDE A. MAHONEY.

The last-ditch naval battle for
control of Java, the most i'm
portant sea engagement OF the
war, cost Allied forces II COM
bat ships with a 18th beached,
the Navy Department and the
British Admiralty announced
yesterday in a joint communl-
que. The losses included the
1OOOO-ton U. S. S. cruiser HouS-
ton and the old four-funnel U.
S. S. destroyer Pope.
Outnumbered by approximately
two and one-half times to one, the
United States, British, Dutch and
Australian ships went down fighting
and sank or damaged badly eight
japanese war vessels in the battle
which saw the Allied ships caught,
at the end, in e tightly closed trap
in waters north of Java, their only
escape through comparatively mar
row channels dominated by the
enemy.
Both the Houston and the Pope
went into smokey battles OIL the
coast of Java and never were seen
or heard from again. The Houston
carried a crew of approximately
1000 officers and men and the Pope
approximately 145 Next of kin OF
the ships compliments have been
notified. Capt. Albert H, Rocks OF
Seattle was commanding officer OF
the Houston and 1t Comdr. Wexford
c. Blinn of New Smyrna, Fla, COM
manded the Pope.
British Lose Cruiser Exeter.
The Allied ship losses were divided
as follows:
Brtish-Cruiser Exeter. which
had had a brilliant career in the
war. having participated in the
engagement with the German
Graf Spec, and in other battles;
destroyers Electra, Jupiter, En-
counter and Stronghold
Dutch-Cruisers De Ruyter and
Java, destroyer Kortenaer lost,
and destroyer Evertsen beached
and probably lost.
Australia-Crulser Perth and
the sloop Yarra.
japanese losses were listed as fol-
lows: One cruiser hit and burning,
one cruiser hit and sunk, one cruiser
damaged, one destroyer sunk, one
Mogami class cruiser on fire and
probably sinking and three destroy
ers on fire and sinking.
First Battle February 27.
The battle divided itself into three
parts:
First-The Allied fleet, whose
total strength was not disclosed,
engaged a superior enemy force
on February 27 between Soera-
baia. the Java naval base, and
the island of Bawean. Two de-
stroyers, the Kortenaer and the
Electra were sunk. The cruiser
Exeter was badly hit
Second-In the dead Of night
that followed, lurking japanese
submarines dispatched two
cruisers, the De Ruyter and the
Java, and the Jupiter, destroy
er. BY that time the battle was
lost.
Third-The next day the jap
anese were in command of the
sea and air. The remainder OF
the Allied fleet was bottled up.
Dispersed and attempting to run
enemy dominated straits at each
end of the island of Java, three
cruisers, the Houston, the Exeter
and the Perth, and two destroy
ers. the Pope and the Encounter,
were overtaken by enemy fleet
units. The Navy said they were
lost.
The official communique gave
full description of the battle.
On the afternoon of Friday, Feb
ruary 27, it said, an Allied fleet
under sea command of Rear Admiral
Deoorman of the Dutch Navy and
under strategic control of Vice Ad-
miral C. E. L. Helfrich, commander
of Allied naval forces in the Far
East. met a japanese force about
(See JAVA, Page A-40