The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-05
Japanese Invaders
 Are Nearing Batavia
Continued from Page D

Continued emy control of highly important communications functions, includ- ing the rail line from Bandoeng | to Batavia.
 East-The enemy forces landed at Rembang pushed to within 65 miles or perhaps less of Soerabaja naval base after taking Solo and Bodjonegoro. This represented an advance along the main north coast communications lines toward Soerabaja, which appeared to be threatened with isolation from the rest of the Ireland.
 Japanese dive-bombers and tanks were leading the attacks.
 z (The British Exchange Telegraph Agency, in dispatch from Ban- doeng, said that the Japanese had advanced 100 miles inland from theie landing point at Rembang and were threatening imminent isolation of Soerabaja. Japanese dive bombers in large numbers were said to be rushing back and forth across the island in response to radio calls from Japanese commanders trying to break through strong defense positions.
 Radio Batavia still was broadcast ing its regular news program at mid-morning, eastern war time, to- day).
 Because of the peculiar character of inflltration warfare" the Dutch communique said, establishment of regular front is impossible and it is difficult to give clear review of the situation. On the whole. the Japanese have numerical superiority (estimated at 85000 men) and are advancing steadily despite the he roic and courageous resistance o1 our troops"
 Japs Making Progress
 The Japanese drive across tht middle of Java was making rapic progress, according to the Anete News Agency. Enemy bombers were pounding south coast ports, presum. ably in an effort to knock out any allied ships attempting to depart from that sector. Tilatiap was one of the ports bombed but little dam- age was reported.
 The enemy land forces, however had pushed forward from their north coast landing points to Soer- akata, which is now in Japanese hands. This advance of about 55 miles is one of the deepest if not the deepest, made by the Japanese.
 In their advance to Soerakarta the Japanese moved along a noun tain highway and reached a cross roads as well as railroad junction on the only line from Soerabaja.
 Communication between Bandoeng and Ba aiavia were disrupted.
 Throughout the Island, Dutch troops and the American, British and Australian forces in their sup port, including a Texas artillery unit, are fighting a raging battle against the numerically superior enemy forces, the communique re- ported
 The communique revealed that Japanese had raided Tjilitjap, on the south coast-a port whose strat- egic importance had increased im- measurably because 1t is the last harbor at which reinforcements might be disembarked in compara- tive safety.
 Fight HerOically
 Dutch and other Allied troops are fighting heroically, the communique said, against the Japanese including their light, mobile advance units which continue infiltration across plantations and through jungle.
 Two Japanese bombing planes were destroyed, and two more prob ably destroyed, out of fleet of six which bombed bandoeng today.
 British hurricane fighters raided Japanese occupied airdrome at Kalidjatb shot down a crack en- emy navo-o plane, damaged anoth- CT and machine gunned several Japanese planes on the field.
 Two hurricanes were lost but their pilots escaped, one slightly wounded.
 Fires ragged in key areas all over the island, and explosions echoed through the mountains, as Dutch demolition squads ignited or dyna- mited installations and supplies which cthe Japanese could use.
 United States artillery was report ed still in action on one sector, un- der Lieut.. Col. T. s. Tharp, and British and Australian guns blasted Japanese troops as they moved Up to engage Netherlands and Nether- lands East Indies infantrymen.
 Japs Control Air
 The Japanese, now in full control of the air and far superior in num- bers to the defending forces, inten- sified each hour their threat to Batavia, the capital; Bandoeng, Netherlands East Indies high con- mand headquarters, and Soerabaja, the great naval and air force base t the Est end of Jv.
 It was indicated that the Nether- lands forces, after destroying all in. stallations and materials of military value, intended to retire to the ir- terior hills is necessary and con- tinue to fight from them as Gen. Douglas y1acArthur Is fighting In the Philippines.
 All Dutch commanding officers
 Authorities have indicated that an attempt would be made to hold