Evening star., 1942-02-07
Seven-Pronqed Jap Thrust Drives Nearer Java
Heavy Air Raids
Believed Prelude
To Invasion
Ry 7. p. BOUWER,

6N8u correspondent Oh hncLhI SiuCihA
Dutch News Agency.
BATAVIA, Feb. Z (Aneta to A.
P).-The lightning events of the
last week have brought the jap
anese closer to Java, and the at
tempted invasion of this island
bastion of the Southwest Pacific
Is expected to begin soon.
Air raids on Soerabaja and other
Java towns during the last dew days,
followed by extensive japanese aerial
reconnaissance, are interpreted here
as preliminary to an all-out on
slaught.
At the end of nine weeks of the
Pacific war, the pattern of the jap
anese drive into the South Seas can
be summarized as tWo-headed
hydra, radiating seven tentacles,
which have pushed ahead with vary
ing success. Some of these arms
have been delayed, but none has
been decisively cut of.
There is no doubt that the Japa-
nese are out to surround Java, rich
in resources, densely populated and
strategicaliy situated at the gateway
between the Pacific and Indian
Oceans.
Major Drives Southwark.
The two heads of the hydralike
Japanese drive consists. first, Of Indo-
China, Hainan and Formosa, and
second, of Japan itself. The ten
tacles. from west to east, have de-
veloped as follows:
l. The push from Indo-China in
the direction of the Indian Ocean by
way Of Burma, seeking primarily to
sut of Chinas lifeline. the Burma
road, and also to control the Sealanes
Of the Indian Ocean.
2. The drive from Indo-China
through Malaga to Singapore. This
arm apparently will seek later to
extend over Eastern Sumatra to the
Sunda Straits, from where it would
be in position to strike at Java.
3. A move, probably also from
Indo- China, which thrust to British
North Borneo and SaraWak, then
south into Dutch Borneo and now
apparently has occupied Pontianak.
4. A drive which probably came
from Japan proper by way of the
Philippines and first seized the
island of Tarakan off the east coast
of Borneo, then grasped Balik
Papan. where it was halted by the
vigorous Allied onslaught against |
the invasion feet in Macassah |
Straits.
Sixth Arm Embryonic.
The way the military situation |
has developed during the last week |
makes it seem that this tentacle |
will attempt to continue on to Java.
It Is believed here, however. that
losses suffered by this fleet will dis
suade the Toxic war leaders from
any further attempt to reach Java
with one huge convoy as long as the
air bases on Java remain in COM
mission.
S. A push, probably also from
japan via the Philippines, which
Arst conquered the Minahassa re-
gion In Northern Celebes and then |
drove In to the Kendari region in |
Southeast Celebes. Although the |
occupation has not yet been con-
solidated, the Japanese apparently
are already using Kendari as a base.
6. The sixth arm Of the japanese
o-ive. still embryonic, may never de-
velop completely. This is a possible
attack on the Halmahera group of
islands, which so far has seen only
occasional air raids.
A branch of the sixth tentacle
reaches outside Netherlands Indies
territory toward Australian New
Guinea, from where 1t serves as an
other menace to Allied communica-
tions with Australia.
Grounds for Serious Concern.
7. The last arm. and the longest, |
Is provided by the Japanese Navy.
This weeks flights of fighters, ap-
parently carrier-based, over East |
Java indicate that this tentacle
already has come into position to
play its part in the attack on Java.
While the Japanese are still far |
from completing the encirclement