The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-03-03

t1r JyH5-eeNerX man carried Tile, b
tommygun or a revolver anu Sse7-
preached each bush with great care.
1t was highly uncomfortable for
reporters and we imagined a Jap
anese sniper in every bush.
Some of the Dutch native soldiers
held huge banana leaves over their
heads and guns as protection
against the heavy rain through
which we advanced. When they
were thirsty they drank coconut
milk, fresh from the trees. A field
kitchen followed each unit forward.
Within a mile of the objective
of our group, reporters were told to
turn back because of the danger
of being shot not only by the jap
anese but by Dutch troops who
might mistake our khaki shirts and
shorts for the uniform usually
worn by japanese snipers in the
jungles.
One captured japanese tank in
this sector was of British origin and
apparently had been taken by the
enemy at Singapore. There were
some reports that the japanese also
were using British or Australian
tropical outfits for their own troops.
During the entire trip We wound
over a mountainous countryside
dotted with plantations and inter-
laced with barbed wire, tank traps
and pill boxes. Allied troops, with
rifles ready were hidden in the
roadside bushes and other patrols
spread out in search for enemy
groups.
We saw no japanese planes near
the front on this trip, although the
Dutch troops said they had been
dive bombed in some sectors. Earlier
We had ducked into a ditch beside
the road as % japanese bombers
and nine fighters roared overhead
apparently heading for an Allied air
base near Bandoeng.
No Mans Land
The plantation country near the
fighting zone has become a no
mans land. Villages practically are
deserted. Only military traffic
moves on the roads.
We saw one Dutch soldier sitting
on an anti-tank gun as his COM
rade bandaged wounds caused by
enemy dive bombers.
We met dutch plantation owner
who risked his life to drive through
a dangerous area and inform the
Dutch officers that he had a large
gasoline store at his plantation and
that he would lead the Dutch there
before the japanese arrived.
Today'S Dutch communique was
confined to terSe comment on the
military situation.
The position of the Allied defend
ers of Java continued grave in view
of huge japanese reinforcements
available in the southwestern
Pacific but, according to COM
munique, the enemy has failed tc
make any gains since Sunday and
the Allies forces are showing "a
splendid offensive spirit in close
contact with the enemy"
The stubborn, courageous battle
which the Dutch, aided by COM
paratively small American, British
and Australian units, are fighting
in Java was reflected in the terse
words of the communique, but it
was emphe s'zed in high military
sources that the serious of the
threat to this last Allied base in
the East Indies must not be over
looked.
announcement that Gen. Sir
Archibald Wavell, who has been SUI
preme Allied commander, had re-
turned to India and left defense OF
Java in Dutch hands was followed
by a Dutch statement in London
that mo country in Java's present
circumstances could hope to hold
out indefinitely" The statement
told Of tremendous" Dutch losses
and indicated that the Allies had
not met Java's need for big REIN
forcements to battle perhaps 100,-
900 japanese troops already landed
and more expected to be put ashore
by Japanese invasion fleets at any
| time.)
Abbott and Costello, Universal
l.. II