Evening star., 1942-07-13
borneo' Oil Fields
Believed Put Back
In Use by Japs
Rich Areas Held Likely
To Be Exploited Due
To Fifth Column Aid
By GEORGE WELLER,
War Correspondent of The Star and CHI
cago Daily News.

caeo Daily News.
SOMEWHERE IN AUSTRALIA,
July 13.-Japanese exploitation
of the oil wells in British Borneo
and Dutch Northeast Borneo
probably has placed at the dis
posal of the Nipponese fleet sub
stantial quantities of oil suitable
for the fleets use, it is freely con-
ceded by naval authorities here.
These oil fields before the war
were Japan's most desired prize not
only because the oil came from the
ground in condition which could
be used If necessary without re-
fining, but also because the fields
were the nearest to Japan.
This part Of Borneo was only
about TOO miles from Camranh Bay,
Indo- Chinese base donated to the
Japanese by Vichy, across the Jap
dominated China Sea with Spartley
Island, q Japanese Malta OF the In
land routes, serving as protective
midway base.
|
The Japanese recognized that oil
| fields like those at Miri, in Sarawak,
could not be destroyed by the Brit
ish. However, they made careful
plans, sending Japanese photog-
! raphers, BARRIERS and other fifth
columnists to become members of
the oil-field communities. A former
resident of Sarawak told your cor
respondent recently that "the Jap
anese were official photographers in
Miri and were on excellent terms
with the community.
MY best friend was a Japanese"
he said.
On the eastern side OF Borneo-
virtually on the same parallel lati-
tude as Mindanao in the Philippines
is Tarakan Island, northern CEN
ter of Dutch oil. Here the Dutch did
thorough job of demolition of the
production and shipment areas. But
even destruction of existing shafts
could not prevent early japanese ex-
ploitation.
A"ACuidtC LApluItdIhOU
An American naval authority with
whom your correspondent talked
said he regarded it as possible that
the Japanese had floating refin-
cries ready for immediate exploita-
ton of the oil fields they planned
to SEIZE" Besides having consider
! able Japanese communities under
the British and Dutch flag, the ag-
gressors also had under the Ameri-
can flag at Davao a community Of
Japs so large that it was known as
little Japan"
The Dutch and British depended
on Singapore, and to lesser degree
the China Sea base of Labuan, to
prevent the Japanese from gaining
the most vital sinew of air and
. naval warfare
Japanese claims that they have
brought the Djambi oil fields on
Sumatra into action may be dis
. counted for a month or two longer.
The refinery problem is greater there
, because the Sumatra oil is less pure
Moreover, the fields are more than
an hours motor ride from the re-
: f1neries and all pipelines were de-
stroyed.
Ruse by japanese.
japanese radio references to Su-
matran oil can be classified under
the head of ruse intended to di-
l vert attention from North Borneo
Nippon's nearest source. But among
: the realities of the Japanese sur
: prise thrust southwark is the fact
that Japan now possesses and Is
exploiting unhindered In BorneC
some of the best raw oil fields in the
world
Until Allied activities are carried
Z to the point where the enemy's in
ner sea lines of communication are
broken, Japan's exploitation of OF
resources without interference be-
1 longs among the hard realities
which should serve as gauge to the
continuous political pattern alone
protective lines required for perma
j nent American control of Japan
thrust in southeastern Asia and fol
denial to Japan of the means ol
4 striking free powers again.