The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1942-03-03
CHRONICLES OF WAR
HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE
FRInAY. FHRRTARY 81

~ N0ANt "a =
Warships 81 Japan and the lated Nations hastled IN
the lava SRA in a clash which indicated the allaat Japanese
forces mss and went inte hattie fermatlon. Certain Tinted
States units we're involved.
The Jasanease talked q breaking threagh the Indian
ocean 90 destroy the whole Angie Soviet plant Of material
cooperation"
While enemy losses remained untabalaiea officially.
fresh indications IL the great wounds dealt to japanese sea
power in the Pacific came in the announcement 81 The uaited
states War Secretary Stimson sAat american army Tiers
since the beginning 81 the var had probably sunk II least 10
Japanese ships and seriously damaged 10 others. lie aIo re-
ported that 4in Japanese aircraft had been destroyed hy
Army pilot action alone. This was ) TO | over those Of the
Reports from General MaeArthur's troops in Baiaan
were that their situation was considerably improved.
vaders had not yet been able to cross IN forss the slttanR
river. last natural barrier before Rangoon. the Burmese
In Russia the Germans were said 10 be eoanserat.acking
desperately but without success In an effort to break the
reported that at least six Maxi divisions of from 10000 to
$4,000 men faced death or capitulation there.
Vichy French government officials have made their
pledge that their Navy. which is a sizeahlc one. would not be
given TO the Axis and that the fleet would refrain from viola.
ton of neutrality.
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 2s
Japanese invasion troops landed At three points in lava
Saturday night. Japanese losses in these attempts were very
heavy Dutch Australian and United States planes we're In
naval forces were in the thick Of the battle on lava sea. The
Allied warshps won the opening rouad Of the battle and
was identified as the s.5oo-ton Mogami. part Of the powerful
force escorting a fleet OF 30 troop ships. The huge convoy
was dispersed and He'd. None OF the American ships was
damaged heavily. Reporting on earlier activities the Navy
reported that u. S. submarines scored torpedo hits on five
japanese ships 81. Of them believed 10 have been sunk
On Bataan MacAfthurs troops continued 10 hold. al
though only light skirmishes took place between the oppos-
ing forces
Australia ordered military rule for All of IFS vast north
ern territory and sent out IFS bombers for a fresh raid On
the Japanese island bases in that territory.
Major General Walter {. Short and Rear-Adn1ral Illus
band Z. kimmel commandments al Pearl Harbor we're ordered
TO face court martial ON charges of ~dereIhction Of duty for
failing 10 take proper safeguards against a surprise Japan
e&a af4Af an earl HHEDnT
British paraehutists and heavily armed infantry carried
out a successful surprise invasion into German-garrisaned
France spreading terror and confusion among the Maxi de-
tenders of the mouth ~ the Seine.
SUNDAY. MARCH
Japanese invasion troops knitted swiftly through the
plantations and rice fields Of Northern lava 10 within 10
miles of the Dutch army headquarters al Bandoeng and the
defending Dutch. British and American troops shifted stub
bornly TO the offensive TO stem the tide. II was reported that
he Japanese succeeded in landing 10000 troops. Fighter
planes and bombers OF the United Nations reared ceaselessIy
TO the attack. and fought scores of Japanese above the clouds
and had something like a fighting chance To hold the skies
and protect the 100000 defending ground troops.
Japanese armies increased their pressure against weary
defenders Of eastern Burma and grave doubt was expressed
about British chances Of holding the Sitiang river line.
Doughty American and British pilots blasted y more Japan
troops crossed the Siifang river and approached the main
Burma China highway but were hurled back By imperial de-
tenders.
In the Philippines. General Macarthur heroes enjoyed
a lul after their victorious battles on Bataan peninsula.
while in northern Luzon an isolated American Filipino de
taehment forced the japanese from a 45-mfe section be
tween Ceryantes and Bangued.
japanese bombed Port M0resby an outer Australian pos
session causing some damage. The Aussies struck back with
raids on an enemy airdrome in New Britain and \ Japanese
convoy off Dutch Tim0r.
4 superior japanese fleet Of 20 warships and 50 trans
ports battered through the first line of sea defense early In
the day. landing troops in northwestern Batam district from
oveTrun Sumatra. Two japanese cruisers were sunk o. put
out Of action. five others damaged. an u~neassified Narship
blown up and five destroyerr crippled. Al least II and pos
sibly 20 or more transports we're sunk OF damaged seriously
By the combined sea- air ard land batteries Of the defenders.
The Dutch hos, two cruisers and = destroyer.
Soviet forces are drawing an ever tighter moose about
the shattered 10th German Army and we're within sight Of
Staraya. Russian City, keystone Of all German C0mmuniea- +
tions on the northwestern front below Leningrad. Huge
German transport plane. packed aith soldiers attempting
TO reinforce the troops there we're shot out Of the skies in