The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-28

propaganda claims that U. s. forces have started to retreat to the south, abandoning their Notifications around NJ Natib in the center ot he province. Previous Japanese re- ports had claimed the capture Of Mt. Natib The Japanese also have claimed the capture of Balang, eastern anchor of MacArthur'S de- fense lines.
 Tokyo reports admitted the loss or four transports in the MacaSSar ac- tion.
 Help Rushed From U. 5.
 President Roosevelt revealed that help is being rushed with all possi- ble speed to the Pacific theater. He declined to specify the type of aid or whether it included one ct the six, eight or 10 American expedl- tionary forces which he said have been dispatched around the world. However he said very good progress is being made in movement of sup plies to what he called the ABDA American, British, Dutch, Aus tralia) area.
 Battle reports from the southwest Pacific left little doubt that the need for American aid in unlimited quantities is pressing.
 For the moment MacArthur'S men of Bataan enjoyed a respite from Japanese attack but new and even more fierce attacks were expected.
 A +, VI II fnrnn nf Amer. ican regulars and Filipinos is faced by the entire 14th Japanese army plus sizable endorsements and spe- cial unitS-possibly 100000 to 30O,- OOO men on the Island Of Luzcn. The proportion of the force actually deployed against MacArthur'S battle lines has not been revealed. It pre- sumably is limited only by the diffi- cult, jungle-girt, mountain-studded terrain of the small peninsula, Ba- taan. The portion of the peninsula held by Macarthur is only 20 to 25 miles long and E to 15 miles wide. There was TO confirmation here of Japanese propaganda claim that they have captured Balanga, anchor of MacArthur's line on the eastern Bataan coast. MacArthru's tiny airplane and motor torpedo boat forces were still harassing the Japanese. His planes shot clown two and blasted three Japanese planes in daring actions. But his precious band of Curtis P-40 fighters was too small for more than sporadic forays against the enemy.
 Battle May Still Rage There were indications that the running battle of MacaSsar Straits in the Dutch East Indies may still be in progress. American air and sea forces have deStroy ~. at least eight Japanese ships, and possibly got four others, including an air. craft carrier. Dutch forces appear to have accounted for 16, making a total Of 28 sunk, probably sunk or damaged
 British quarters understood that the Japanese invasion fleet in the straits originally totaled about 10( ships.
 If that report is correct the Japa- neSe lost nearly 25 per cent of theil strength in the Macassar straits as thus far reported. The cost in man. power may be around 25,000 men.
 The total Japanese strength being deployed in the far-fiung attack against the Dutch Indies and the approaches to Australia is estimated in some quarters at 500,000 men.
 On the Malaga and Burma front. the Japanese may have another 100000 men or more deployed. These plus the Japanese in the Philippines brings the total to 100000.
 There was fresh word of U. s. air operations on the Burma front where American fighters again es- sorted Royal Air Force bombers in devastating attack on Japanese forces striking toward Moulmein.