THE CHINA MAIL, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1950,
FOURTH BOOK: 'THE HINGE OF FATE
S
CORES of thousands of words in the surest codes had been tele- graphed between the British, United States, Dutch, Australia, New Zen-
Indian,
Chinese land,
and to Governments
create the ABD.A. [American British ̈- Dutch Australian] Command under Its Supreme Commander IGen. Wavell). It was staffed the utrict proportion to claims of the different Powers, and all in triplicate for the Hardly Army, Navy and Air. had all this been agreed for the five Powers and the Services when the whole vast area con- cerned was conquered by the Japanese, and the combined fleet of the Allies was subk ia the forlorn bottle of the Java Sea.
Tho Japanese conquests ni- of ready threatened the chain islands that form the southern fringe of the Malay barrier, of which the largest are Sumatra and Java. At each step the his gains enemy consolidated
by establishing air bases from
he could which
also strike against the next chosen vie. tim. Never did his forces pass beyond the reach of his power- ful, shore-based air cover or of his aircraft carriers at aco. Hora
was the fulfilment in full strategic rurprise of the long cherished and profound plans of a milltary nation.
Effort waning
For Wavell all turned on the arrival of reinforcements. Nothing could be done to save the smull Dutch garrisons nt the key points of the central islands, and we have seen want happened at Singapore. The Dutch...with their homeland in bondage, had no further re- sources on which to call Their full effort had been engaged from the outset, and was now waning.
The two Australian div11058 from the Middle East and EA
anti-aircraft re-
*way. Three giments nuked airfields of Java, The Indomitable flew 48 Hurricane.
Rangoon
A
M
Dac 10
Dec 11
Lingayan at
Manila
Luzon
-Dez Zb
PACIFIC
Dec 11 PHILIPPINE
ISLANDS
0 C
EAN
Sandaman
Bangkok
J
C
Gulf of Siam
FRENCH INDO-CHINA
Balgor
SOUTH
Camranh Bay
CHINA.
• Nicobar
Is
Det B
•Singara Dac,
S'E A
SULU
SEA
Amankou Bhory
Mindanao
MALAYA
⇓ Notera i
Dec 16
DON Mini
Jblo
NORTH CORNLY
Dec 20
Jan 10 CELRORS
ง
Dec-23
Farahan
SARAWAK
SEA
Jan 11
Halmahera
N O
1 AN
M
Malac
AT
Mirneda
NEW
Ftb tl/15
B ORN BO
Fab 16 Banjarma
CELE
Jon 30 Am
Jan 24
GUINEA
ykandari
Banka 13. Polembonga
{Mar 1
Gosthardin Booker Boy
SEA -Mar 11-Mar
• Christmas!
Cocos 18
AVA
REVERSES
Ramborg
ν
Feb 18
314
FLORES
Lombor
Scole of Miles
AREA OF
On should be sent to Burma.
TONS of bombers flew from Egypt via India to Sumatra. Eight of these aircraft even tually reached Java, Everything that wo could lay our hands upon was sent.
The
States Aslatic United Fleet, withdrawn from the Philippines, had already been sent
British and to join the
link Dulch naval forces. Every
cupied. effort was made by the Amer At
Cats
and
alr.
who
In
Seembat
CHAPTER SIX:
IN
SCA
Timor
DSTRALIA
"AUSTRALIAN
THE ABDA OPERATIONS
all at
was
air
dismissed
in
Admiral Doorman re-formed
scattered and shrunken
hie
the
`aquadron, and led them round in enemy's flank, hoping
the convoy of trans. confused
striko
ports. Intermittent
phting continued.
The enemy,
who had now been reinforced, were fully informed of all his mavements from the ale
The American destroyers had dila harged all their torpedoes and were sent back to Sourabaya, The British destroyer Jupiter struck
the mino, laid by Dutch that very day, and sank Immediately, with heavy loss of
liza.
ü
Same time after 10,30 Ad mural Doorman, steaming for ward, encountered two Ja- paroso cruisers, and after
lerce action both the Dutch eruiners
and were torpedoed
A
sunk, carrying with them tho brave Dutch admirel who had
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fought so well against Buch Braathens S.A.F.E. Airtransport A/S
heavy odds.
The Perth and
Houston, having
successfully
disengaged, steered for Batavia which they reached the follow- ing afternoon. -
Bitter end
We must follow the story i Its bitter enu.. mer refuelling, the Australian and American cruisers left Balavin again, the samo night, occking to pass through the Sunda Straits, By chanco they fell amidst the ronin Japanese Western Attack Forco just as its transports. were disembarking troops In Banten Boy, at the extremo
end of Java. western
They took their vengeance before they perished Linking LWN transporta while unloading their troops. Both the Aug. tralian and American capiníos went down with their ships.
At first prey.
Death blow
Smothered
The four American destroyers which had fought in the battin the previous day had used all their torpedoes. Nevertheless they sailed on the alght af Feb. 28, and slipped througn the narrow Bali Stralt, ma countering only a single enemy patrol, which they brushed and translated on the De Ruyler's aside. By daylight they wern war against Japan from under Admiral Doorman,
to the southward. of British ships, bridge by an American liaison clem away armoured brigade were on thele and that all Southern Sumatr the
would fall into Japanese hands. this main base. I hope you the Western,
Tanjong Priok, the port of ameer before transmission. His and reached Australia. Gen. Wavell had forecast realize how highly I and
by urgent plea for protection
This
route was not possibir wore hurried to the that the invasion of Java, our your friends here, as well as Batavia,
the few fighters remaining at for the larger Exeter, and on would begin the last stronghold,
President and the Com-
On the 28th the Western
with no re- the Sourabaya met
evening of the 28th she of February, bined Staffs
Washington, the end before
the sponse. During the night of the sailed with the Encounter and off her deck; two more squad, and that with what he had, or rate your admirable conduct of striking force, comprising
cruisers Hobart (Australian), 26th be sought the enemy
the Unlied States destroyer the in operations likely to get, there was A.B.D.A. Was
Danac and Dragon, with the valn and in the morning he Pope, hoping to pass the Sunda and He teeth of succes9, hope
of adverse fortune little
to Sourabaya to fuel Straits and reach Ceylon. destroyers Scout and Tenedos, returned therefore recommended that all overwhelming odds.
-having mude various attempls his destroyers. As he was 'cn- the Australian troops in transit Wavell and [Air Chief Mar to find the enemy, were or- tering the harbour peremptory to retire through the orders reached him from Ad- the 18th the beautiful island of shall] Peirse left Bandoeng by dered
to
Helfrich
an to attack Straits
Colombo, miral of Sunda The American pilot
of Ball, next to Java on the east, the aeroplane for the Supreme which
safely enemy
force located west
Next
this morning
little they reached fell, and in the next few days Commander sald to someone fow days later. Scarcity of Baween.
group was discovered, and soon air Timor, our only remaining
his cockpit, fuel
Japanese crul- continuous came into
and the
Doorman turned his tired four prowling
by destroyers with Australia, was oc- "Say, I have only this rallway attack on Tanjong Priok were forces again to seaward, and an sers, supported
The why the Western hour later, soon after 4 p.m., and aircraft, closed in on moment Admiral map, but It's all right, as I am the ronsons this
by over- Lok we are to go to place striking force to send aircraft by air Nagumo's fast carrier group of called Saylon, which is mark at
the battle was joined.
the Exeter, this juncture. Hud they the forces were not unevenly whelming gunfire or sea to the Allled command:
Pearl Harbour fame. now
And they flew off nearly joined ed."
Admiral Doorman'a balanced. A gun duel at long famous from the Plate battle but the distances were im-
consisting of four large car. 1,000 milàs to "Saylon." Wavell Eastern force they could only
caused rengo
no damage to in 1930, was soon reduced mense, and the Japanese ana-
with battleship
and riers
received her had ni extraordinary record have shared its fate. chine was working with speed
either side, and a series of tor- impotence, cruiser support, appeared
in the air. He was in danger and precision.
the Timor Sea, and on the 18th of fatal peeldent at least six or
pedo attacks by Japanese des- death-blow from a torpedo be troyer were equally ineffec- fore noon.. Both the Encounter delivered a devastating air at-
One enemy ship was hit and the Pope were sunk,
Our
were thus tack on the crowded shipping even times, but he never got
naval forces He was thought to be a hurt.
Meanwhile at 8.30 p.m. an and set on Are after half Jonah,
but in an acroplane;
2011 Doorman salled from hour's fighting, but a little later destroyed, and Java was close- Exeler was struck In a ly invested on three sides by De Ruyter, the
Japanese. After the had Headquarters fire bearing his flag, with the heavy boiler room: her speed dropped the
cruiser Exeter (British) and and she turned away to port. Supreme
all the Allied (American), whose The ships astern of her con- een dispersed
forces issed to the command the Houston
for the defoncu efter turret was out of action, formed to her movements.
of the Dutch- the light cruisers Java (Dutch)
of the Jeland. General ter Poorten commanded the 25,000 regular troops of the Dutal by the Carrison, who were joined time the mmo About and two Dutch. Admiral Half-
contingent under
Sitwell, Com- The Dutch Admiral Helfrich rich's orders to Doorman were, Dutch desture. Aortenner was the British
must continue attacks torpedoed and sunk. Admiral Major-General
Australian bat- the "You now took command of
then retured south pricing three naval forces. the enemy, is destroyed." Doorman
tallons, a light tank squadron Hasound principle, and cast and tho general action This An attempt by a small nova Indo-China.
resolute Dutchman never This
broken off. except that of the 3rd Hussars, and squadron to interfere with an Eastern Attack Group at 41 abandoned hope, and continued the Japanese invasion convoys was
tremendous prize, but the destroyer Electra, trying to improvised unit of armed enemy convoy emerging from transports called from Jolo, in to attack the enemy vigorously were a
this case it ignored the deliver a torpedo attack through from administrative ualts, in- the Macassar Strait on Feb. ↑ the Sulu Sco, to Balikpapan, regardless of cost or the over- in
to crushing superiority of the the Japanese smoke-screen, was cluding 450 of the RAF, to- with a number of was driven back with loss by where they arrived on the 23rd, whelming strength opposed
by three Japanese gether Ho was a worthy suc- cromy, his complete mastery of Intercepted
The American artillery-men." attack, and reports began. On the 21st our Combined him.
the destroyer and sunk, to the
famous Dutch the air, and the fact that to come in of a powerful Ja Chiefs of Staff told Gen. Wavell Cessor
force To meet Western striking
had Exeter, after being stopped for The Dutch had about ten air .Dali'ge force massing at the
a while, was able to steam at squadrons, that Java was to be defended scamen of the past.
but many of their Anambra Jalanda. Our
attack on Java, for which been sent away. al in the last by the troops al- the
now unservice- convoys were at sta. Admiral Doorman: also lacked 15 knots, and was ordered back aircraft were force at Palembang, mainly ready in the Island,
common codo of tactical to Sourabaya, escorted by the abic. The RAF. After the Australian squadrons, consisted no more reinforcements would he formed two striking forces, a
be remaining Dutch destroyer.
withdrawal from Sumatra was де Eastern of 40 bombers and about 50 be sent.
Sourabava, signals. Hia orders had to He was also ordered the
formed into five squidrons, of Hurrication, Inadequately to withdraw his headquarters;
which only about 40 machines viced
and protected by A.A. from
Wavoll replied Java.
fit. There remained guns short of ammunition.
that ho considered that the
score of American Dghters and A.B.DA. Command should he
bombers.
Tired forces
Did his best
in Port Darwin, causing much Wavell did his best to the loss of life. For the remainder Jonah always survived, and so the the storm. He formed na al of this brief campaign Darwin did the aeroplane. On this oc- Surabaya in the
to be of value as Palembang. ceased
striking force at At sca American and Dutch base,
submarines
harried the vari-
ous invasion forces cast incl
2
Attack on Java mes
caston the plone caught In the air, but after a struggle the crew extinguished without waking Commander-in-Chief.
the
west of Borneo, not withou success. The attack on Balik As We now know, the JR-
and Perth (Australian), and nine destroyers, of which three
papan was resisted, and four panese D-Day for the invasion Admiral Helfrich were British, four American,
American destroyers Bank four of Java was Feb. 28. On the transports. A fifth feil a vi 18th the Westem Attack comprising 56 trans-
tim to a Dutch aircraft.
the air replenishments
barely replaced wastagv.
air
But Group. hall ports, with a powerful escort,
left Camranh Bay, in French dwindling Allled
the On the 19th
but that large
Palembang battle dissived and not withdrawn,
and this was agreed.
convoy of 25 or more transports could from the Anambas was attack- military
Upon 'to
ihn! see, the principle commanders
·
tive.
Enemy's flank
on
C.V.R. Thompson reports the U.S. scene werd
NEW YORK. at dinners and on the radio, all over New York....The Rus NE after another, and TV. He doesn't want to aluns promised never to use an
them.'
of
*
The surrender
an men
PL
24
On Feb. 13 the Japanese I always followed so for an I O Government blawg, outshine others, including the atom bomb against América if should have come out with warni- lie had forgotten, Sir Oliver use General MacArtbur against
To this scanty force foll the | duty-of defending the island, led by all avallable bombers, not be judged by results, but ings of bigger taxes ahead. Franks.
the whose northern shore was Ou But without any decisive effect, by the quality of their effort. I
Treasury boss John Snyder,
But:
Sir
Gladwyn got HOARDER: Found in
long, with countless Seven of our phreaft were las had never had illusions about tho Senate's
export money
John miles. 77-year-old another hearty pat on the back home she bext morning 700 Japanese A.BDA., and now sought only Walter George,
who dlod
In landing beaches. Tho, Japancio and half
the other day. Sald the New Hacusaler. ve Burma and India. dozen other talked of excess York Herald-Tribune.
Town: "A Mount Vernon, PAXUNDULINE,ty aescengca
Four convoys from the east and west
four
or five divi discharged the Palembang, and all day n hot admired
composure and profits taxes by Christmas, of shrewd and forceful Aghter for thousand pounds of sugar. of mind with which bigger individual taxes all, next freedom and one of the ablcat
sions. The end could not be battle was fought for the air firmness
Had they been on up- Wavell had, faced the cataract year to pay for rearming minds which the dimeult now field.
ROCKED already by their long delayed. Many thousand
British and Americans, ported-3; thon parachutista in of disaster which had been And all this led Itena Worm- diplomacy of international ac- worst-ever police scandal, New f
that including 6,000 sirmen, with time would all have been des choigned to him with so much ser, a lecturer, on money mat tion is developing."
Yorkere wero", ""warned" New York meat- Someters, to tell a
had their fine commander, Maltby, trayed, but on the 16th the formality and precision.
there had been Some
· found ren- advance echolon: of the powol mon would have
of women- shareholders CARS: Young Henry Ford deals in their city's school and over 8,000 Bellish and
which will shus Juvanion force arrived on sons for declining,
Australian troops, were sur- (or asked, something,"
causo has startled all the other car building programine. conditions bo- trouble for their husbands. makers of Detroit Everyone themont equipped with land- for impossible
rendered by Dutch decalon on ing-start that carried them up fore accepting a task so badling Said he: "A wife is becom- expected him to raise the price
Max, Moss, President of the March 8. river approaches
I had been decided to fight and hopeless, failure in which ing increasingly valuable of his car because of increased Board of Education, sold that Every available aircraft was could not but damage their her husband. In this tax ago, material costs and his escortain contractors and some to the end with the Dutch In
* in decision par bis mon more.
I hopes rÖ- sured against the ships and reputation with the publie: a wife in worth her weight
than olhar Nim. But, al school oficials would soon be Java. Although landing craft, great loses ware Wavoll's conduct had conform axemptions."
irregularities muined of victory, at least con
several What he was getting at: A though he expenses have gone prosecuted for
nable Antioped, and the alluck was ed to the best tradition of the
„enomy" "expeditions Estayedryoniza, to bo: rusumed. na Army, I therefore repilad::
were delayed in their quest for new tax law allows a married up £20,000,000 a year, Ford Costing the taxpayers
DOW Prices, The Japaneso his churt inevitably de Prime Minister to General man to me that he paid aid that he would not a Talso
dunquest of the Dutch Eat Wavell
over half is income to his prices. Hile redson: Indation - IANDALS; TH
dies, was", complete NEKIAMASZARIYE JALA, pour ne Feb 22 1942, and then each da se hurts everybody We are doing Council of Crom Hurricanes and 40 bonitors When zun cease to command al for taxes in a lower base, aux b
Hour
Skiledi: Our strength 'et 'Palem
to
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