Evening star., 1944-04-24

covering the period lmmeolaIeiy
tiative, but during which we still
rces to defend our recent gains.
possible to get organized for the
surface actions that we're in prospect
in the Java Sea.
The Java Sea Campaign.
In that situation Admiral Hart
had to plan all our operations with
out air support except for few
Army bombers and few fighters
based on Java. Our PBY4's OF
Patrol Wing 10 were not suited for
the type of operations in prospect
AMI as matter of fact it was only
the superb work of their pilots in
the face of enemy fighters coupled
with the mobility of our tenders
that made their use possible.
BY the end of December the
Japanese were preparing bases at
Davao, on Mindanao, and at Jolo
in the Sulu Archipelago. From these
points they moved south to attack
Menado. on the northern tip of
Celebes, Tarakan, in Northeastern
Borneo, and shortly afterward Kema,
with the obvious intention of NOV
ing down Molucca Strait toward
Ambon, Kendari and Makassar
Strait. BY January 20 they ap-
peared to be ready to move against
Balikpapan, on the east coast OF
Borneo.
Collecting the few ships at his
disposal (until early February all
British and Netherlands surface
ships had to be used to escort troop
conveys into Malaya) Admiral Hart
decided upon night torpedo at
tack. This was delivered off Ba-
likpapan (the action became known
officially as the Battle of Makassar
Strait early in the morning of
January "a, by the destroyers John
D. Ford, Parrot, Paul Jones and
Pope, under the command of Comdr.
(now Capt.) p. H. Talbot. Whatever
the losses sustained by the enemy,
the attack Zone of four attempts by
our cruisers and destroyers to come
to grips with the enemy at seal was
brilliantly executed and was re-
sponsible for the stalling of that
particular force for some time at
Balikpapan.
Other amphibious forces, however,
continued to advance eastward and
landed at Rabaul in New Britain
and at Bougainville in the Solomons.
New positions on the coast of Borneo
were also seized by the enemy and
in the first few days of February
they captured Ambon and began
bombing Sorabaja and several other
Javanese points.
Allied Squadron Repulsed.
In furtherance of the effort to delay
the enemy drive, striking force con-
sisting of four cruisers and seven de-
stroyers. about half of which were
Netherlands and the other half
American, was formed under the
command of Rear Admiral Door
man of the Netherlands Navy. A
large enemy convoy having gath
cred at Balikpapan, Admiral Door
man undertook to run up Madeira
Strait into the Java Sea and de-
liver an attack, but our forces were
discovered by Japanese planes and
subjected to a prolonged bombing
attack which prevented the carry
ing out of the plan.
During this attack the Houston
suffered one direct hit, which de-
stroyed her No. 8 turret, and the
Marblehead was forced to retire to
the south coast of Java to effect
temporary repairs.
The Netherlands cruisers De Ruy-
ter and Java were sunk by combi-
nation of torpedoes and gunfire.
This left only the Houston and the
Perth, the American destroyers hav-
ing expended their torpedoes and
retired to port to refuel. Accord
ingly, the Houston and Perth re-
tired to Tandjong Prock. Although
the japanese suffered some damage
they were successful in preventing
the striking force from reaching
their conveys. The immediate prob
lem was now to rescue our remain
ing vessels from the Java Sea, the
exits of which were held by the
enemy.
On February %, the Exeter, Popt
and Encounter headed for Soends
Strait and were never heard from
again. On March l, the Houston
and Perth, accompanied by tht
Netherlands destroyer Eversten
headed in the same direction, anc
except for very meager reports ol
an engagement in Soenda Strait
they have not been heard from
since. OF the entire Allied force
only the four American destroyer.
managed to make their way tt
Australia after skirmish with
japanese destroyers patrolling Bal
Strait.
On February %, the Japanes.
landed on the north coast of Java
AS no port on the island of Jaws
was tenable as a base for our sur.
face forces, the Allied Naval Com
mand was dissolved and the Amer.
lean ships remaining at Tjilatjal
were ordered to proceed to Aus.
tralia. OF the four destroyers 81
ordered, the Edsall and the Pills
bury were lost en- route. All othel
craft escaped, with the exception O
the gunboat Asheville. Thus endec
the gallant campaign of the Jaw.
Sea, conducted against overwhelm
ing odds by officers and men VIII,
; did the best they could with wha
they had.
ITO Be Continued.)
Hnnkine Imnrnves StnadiIv