The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-12
two direct hits on a Japanese cruiser

two direct hits on Japanese cruiser and a near-miSs on destroyer.
 "This morning two Australian planes, near Menado, were shot down in flames by the Japanese.
 Our bombers this morning scored direct hit on a Japanese cruiser lying off Tarakan, while our Glenn- Martin (American-made) bombers also scored two direct hits on two Japanese transports there.
 "At Singapore, three Japanese planes today were shot down by our fighters. The pilot of one Dutch fighter was obliged to bail out after shooting down two enemy planes. He landed safely"
 Bitter fighting was reported in progress against the Japanese sea- borne and parachute troops landed on the Dutch Islands in an effort to seize the rich oil area of Tara kan and Bali Papan, in East Borneo.
 The military situation was such that no details of the fighting could yet be given, it was added.
 It was admitted that one Neither lands navy plane had been lost in latest operations.
 The communique said 30 wound- ed persons had been landed at Bali Papan, in Dutch East Borneo, from a ship which the Japanese had bombed and machine gunned.
 The communique, issued at 2 p. m. @ a. m. EST), said:
 Bitter Battle Is On
 Operations in the Minahassa area of Selebes are being continued. The bitter fighting between the Jap anese invaders, consisting of sea- borne troops and parachutists, and our troops is going on.
 No further particulars can yet be given at the present about the at tack on Tarakan nor about the strong resistance which our troops continue to offer"
 The new Japanese drive was a triple threat aimed at capturing immensely rich oil fields, encricling Singapore and cutting American South seas communications. Land, sea and air forces of the strong Netherlands East Indies de- fense organization engaged the Japanese.
 Dutch bombing planes scored di- rect hits on two Japanese trans ports, probably damaged cruiser with a near miss and downed three Japanese seaplanes, while a Dutch submarine sank two Japanese sea- planes, while Dutch submarine sank two Japanese transports in the Gulf of Siam.
 The Dutch forces were believed to have conceded some ground to the Japanese, landed Saturday from big cruiser-protected transport fleet.
 But 1t was indicated that under long pre-arranged scorched earth policy they were destroying all oil- we'll installations as they retired.
 The Japanese had landed men on Tarakan island, off the northeast coast of Borneo, and at three places in the MinahaSSa area of north eastern Celebes.
 Obtained FOOthOld Thus they had obtained a foot hold 800 miles east of Singapore, as part of an expected attempt to en- circle Singapore. They were with in 9C0 miles of Port Darwin, vitally important point on the north coast of Australia. They were in posi- tion, if they consolidated their hold to raid communications between the United States and the South seas. The Dutch commander in Tara kan island had said. as he awaited the Japanese attack, that the en- emy would find nothing but charred oil plants and wells and dead Dutchmen."
 Netherlands Report CommuniqueS of the Netherlands East Indies command announcing the invasion said:
 IA strong Japanese transport fleet escorted by a cruiser appeared off Tarakan Saturday and started q landing on the island during the day and night. Bombers of tho NET army air force bombed the Japanese fleet and scored two direct hits on transport ships. while three seaplares were shot down.
 During the night Japanese troops also landed at three places in Nina hassa, in the northern part of the island of Celebes.
 Further details are expected shortly.
 2-"After various transport ships