The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-09

Dutch Planes Hit Them
Dutch fighters went into the air
and engaged the attackers which
presumably were based on a Jap
anese aircraft carrier somewhere off
the Java coast.
A cursory check revealed the en-
envy attack was restricted to ma
chinegunning. No bombs apparent
ly were dropped.
Civilian casualties were relatively
light, despite Notwithstanding of
streets in the city's center.
The raid came at 1880 p. m. and
the all-cIcar sounded an hour and
half later. There was no panic
among the 100000 inhabitants.
Reports from Soerabaja said ST
persons were killed, so wounded
seriously and two injured slightly in
yesterdays raid on the East Java
city, site of the chief Netherlands
Indies naval base.
Most Of the casualties, latest in
formation said, occurred when a
bomb struck a trolley car under
which large number of Mamurese
inhabitants OF Madura island -
had sought refuge.
The raid was directed mainly
against dockyards, but it was
learned that damage to naval es-
Establishments was negligible Nine
bomberS continued the attack for an
hour and a half.
The raid on Batavia, viewed as
possibly a prelude TO about inva-
sion of Java island, was announced
officially in a high command, which
said details were not yet available ="
The communique, distributed by the
Netherlands East Indies news
agency, told of enemy activity over
other arts OF Java, Sumatra and
Borneo.
Today's raid marked the second
appearance of japanese planes over
Batavia. Enemy aircraft appeared
over the capital in reconnaissance
flights Saturday, but dropped no
| bombs.
Meanwhile, japanese patrols were
pushing south from Balik Papan,
East Borneo oil center, apparently
| planning to reach Bandj ermasin
over land" Bandjermassin, i'm
portant trade center on the south
east Borneo coast is considered one
Of the japanese detectives in their
attempt to forge a pre-lnvasion
semi-circle around Java.
The communique revealed a new
air raid on the airdrome at Palem-
bang, oil center in southeast Sum-
atra, but said there were no losses
on the Allied side in contrast with
the attack on Saturday last"
During Saturdays raid on Soera-
baaja, chief Netherlands Indies
naval base, at least two, and prob
ably three enemy planes were shot
down, the communique said.
Early Communique
An earlier communique said that
little damage was done at the naval
and air base.
japanese planes bombed Palem-
bang, on the Sumatra coast zoe
miles from Batavia, and Bangka is
land, off the Sumatra coast about
the same distance from the capital
Six bombing planes attacked Pa
lembang, and it was admitted that
some Dutch airplanes were destroy
ed aground
Dutch defense forces on Celebes
island, northeast of Java, were I'M
derstood TO be ready to meet ar
early Japanese attack on Macassar
the chief town, which is on the
southwest coast about 500 miles
northeast of Java.
The well informed Netherlands
Indies news agency pointed out thai
possession Of Macassar would give
the Japanese a variable advanced
base from which to make the direct
attack on Java.
1t was believed that as part Of
any such move the japanese also
would seek to seize Bandjermasin In
southern Borneo across the Macas-
sar strait
There were indications that a
stronger defense would be made oil
Macassar and Bandjermasin than oil
any other points in the Netherlands
East Indies because of their threat
to the entire island chain as enemy
bases.