Evening star., 1942-02-01
Java Seen Destined
To Be Scene Of Final
Stage Of Pacific War
Rich Island Menuced by
Six japanese Thrusts
Against Other Areas
BY ]. B. BOUWER,
staff Correspondent Of Aneta. Ohcial
Dutch News Agency.

BY ]. B. BOUWER,
, staff Correspondent Of Aneta. Onicial
8 Dutch News Agency.
BATAVIA, Jan. 81 (Aneta to As
sociated Press AT the beginning
of the eighth week of the war the
japanese invasion of the Neither
lands Indies is we'll advanced, and
it is foolish not to admit that sub
stantial danger now threatens this
archipelago.
While 1t is encouraging to note
that the Japanese have not yet con-
quered any really decisive points, 1t
is believed here that the most serious
phase of the battle is at hand.
The principal threat is to the
fabulously wealthy and densely pop
ulated island of Java, which, 1t is
generally believed, is destined to be
the scene of the final stage of the
Pacific war.
= Menaced by Six Thrusts.
. Java is menaced by six japanese
thrusts. These are:
Z, l. The advance on Singapore.
q 2. The drive in West Borneo, which
started with the landing at Penang
kat and was followed by the cross
ing of the Sarawak-Dutch Borneo
border.
!. 3. The japanese naval push
through the Macassar Straits, which
has been temporarily halted at Ballk
Papan, where fighting is still
going on.
4 4. The japanese action against
Kendari, in Southeast Celebes.
S. The assault on the island OF
Amboina, site of an important naval
and air base, which has just begun.
Z. 6. The drive toward New Guinea
and Australia.
Observers here believe that ex-
ecution of the plan has been con-
siderably slowed down by losses in
,f1icted on the enemy and the highly
successful delaying actions fought
by the defenders at the advance
! posts.
= Aimed at Pontianak.
Part of this plan apparently is
a drive to complete the encircle-
lment of Singapore before decisive
'reinforcements arrive. The push IN
West Borneo seems to be aimed at
conouering Pontianak, 400 miles
east of Singapore, which may be
followed by action against the
islands of Bangka and Billion, tin
mining centers south of Pontianak.
An attempt may then be made to
close the ring around Singapore by
an effort to conquer bases on the
east coast of Sumatra. 1ncessant
air activities over this sector ap-
pear to presage such action.
The assault on Pontianak, besides
aiming at forging another link in
the Singapore encirclement, also
would bring the japanese much
closer to Java and would increase
the menace of air attacks on this
island, which is the center Of the
United Nations unified command.
The threat toward Java through
the Macassar Straits appears to
have been halted temporarily by the
heavy losses inflicted by Allied sea
and air action on the huge japanese
convoy. Some observers believe that
this fleet, which got only as far as
Balk Papan,, was originally on its
way to attempt an invasion of Java.
Threat to Positions on Java.
It is realized, however, that even
concentrations at Balik Papan rep
resent a substantial threat to Allied
positions on Java. 1t is taken for
granted that the enemy is concen-
trating such strong forces at the
ruined East Borneo port to estab-
liSh naval and air base as a gen.
eral supporting point for further
actions, presumably against Java.
VI Other observers hold that Java
will not yet become the immediate
enemy objective, expressing the be-
lief that the japanese first must
acquire additional bases at Band
jermasin, in Southeast Borneo, and
Macassar, in Southwest Celebes.
These observers believe that the
next japanese attack will be di-
rected against these two cities.
The landing in the Kendari re-
gion of Southeast Celebes is another
important threat to Java. Pre-
sumably the japanese, if they can
consolidate their position there, will
Use this region as a base for exert
ing additional pressure on MacaSsar,
while also utilizing it as support
ing point for attacks on Java and
the other islands.
r. Very Serious Action.
The latest attack, on Amboina,
seems to be aimed not only at ac-
quiring an additional base, but also
at cutting the Allied supply lines via
Australia. AS such, this action is
considered very serious, not to men
.tion the fact that the loss of AM
boina would mean the loss of vital
Allied naval and air base
The enemy action in recent days
against Australian territory is an
other threat to the Allied supply
line.
81. There is confidence here that
within a reasonable period the
United Nations will be able to end
the threat to the Southwest Pacific.
But meanwhile, the Netherlands
indies are clearing the decks for a
critical battle.
T-L rL.