Imperial Valley press., 1942-01-13

umph in heavy artillery duel that
drove back the enemy, smashed
armored columns and broke up in
fantry concentrations attempting ID
mass for an all-out assault.
In the East Indies, Allied air re-
Inducements appeared to have ar
rived, probably from America. and
intensified aerial action was begin
ming against japanese invaders of
the Dutch islands of Tarakan and
Celebes as well as enemy sea and
land forces in the western Pacific
and Malaga.
Dutch bombers, using some of
the so secret jungle airdromes pre-
pared against the japanese, roared
eastward over Borneo to strike at
the enemy naval and land forces
on Taraka1l and Celebes. Dutch Of
ficials said that program of heavy,
systematic bombing of the enemy
was starting. An official statement
said that the scorched earth pro-
gram had destroyed all oil resources
on Tarakan island before it sur
rendered to the Japanese.
JAP LOSSES HEAVY
Increased Allied air forces ap-
peared to be in action in Malaga,
where the Japanese made their
most severe night and day air raids
on Singapore but suffered losses
of almost 10 per cent of the attack
ing bombers. British defense forces
were reported fighting bitterly OH
the peninsula about $50 miles north
of Singapore but there was no word
of any important change in posi-
tionS.
Northward in Burma, there was
another air alarm at Rangoon and
indications increased that military
operations were impending. Axis
sources have reported that the jap
anese were moving against Burma
while Allied reports have indicated
that the British, with the help Of
Chinese troops, might strike at jap
anese rear bases in Thailand.
Axis claims of triumphS were less
vigorous Tuesday, although the Ber-
lin official news agency broadcast
said that battleship reported sunk
off Egypt last November by a Ger
man U-boat had now been identi-
fled as Britains 3l,l00-ton dread
naught Barham London made no
comment on the Barham.
HITLER ON RUN
In Russia, Adolf Hitler was re-
ported to have abandoned his head
quarters at SmolenSk and moved
southwark as the Red army offens-
i've hammered forward southwest
of Moscow, south OF Leningrad. on
the Arctic coast in the far north
and in Crimea OH the Black sea.
In Egypt, the British mperiaS
captured the AXIS fortress OF Solun
on the Egyptian border, and took
$50 prisoners while advance forces
far across the Libyan desert re-
neWed pressure against the enemy
in the FL Agheila sector.
On all war fronts except Russia
the Allies still were forced to dis
tribute their strength to vital sec
tors in an effort to oppose con-
centrated Axis strength but there
were indications that the new Unit
ed high command in the Pacific
was getting results.
DUTCH DESTROY OIL
In the Dutch East Indies. it was
acknowledged officially that Japa-
nese forces estimated at 10000 had
taken Tarakan island, off the east
coast of Borneo. after hard battle.
Some OF the Dutch defenders were
removed to the mainland 1t was
reported that the defenders de-
stroyed all oil facilities on the is
land.
Later, japanese air fleets attacked
on the central Celebes coast and
Ternate island, in the Molucca
group, which is $50 miles farther
east. This might be a prelude to
another invasion designed 10 give
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