Second Section
Hongkong Telegraph
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SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1941..
Magazine Features
These exclusive “Telegraph” pictures were taken by “Newsreel” Wong on his recent trip, to the South Seas
THE NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES are gradually adjusting
themselves to a condition of war wherein sacrifices and altera tion of daily life are now common, reports John M. Haleigh, United Press Staff Correspondent; in his latest dispatch from Batavia.
Since May 10, 1940, when the Indies awoke to the shock of Hitler's Nazi legions pouring into Holland, the Dutch in the NEI have had to adopt an entirely-new way of lfe In accordance with a policy that was foreign to everything these rich islands have embodied for decades."
From easy occupation as tea planter, rubber estate manager or import or export merchant, colonial Hollanders suddenly faced the ntenace of total war. That meant that alesias in the afternoon's heal, long week-ends in the mountain, and a nearly courtly manner of conducting business, all had to stop..
Air raid precautions had to be organised. The army faved the task of multiplying its numbers at the shortest possible time. Navy officers submitted plans for new harbours, dry docks, submarines of the latest type and more flying boats to patrol six-thousand miles · of coastline,
Orders for American fighters and bombers were rushed to aeroplane factories in the United Stales,
In North Java, munition and powder plants increased their f's, organised new departments and hastily built storage caves back in the impenetrable mountain country.
A hundred different efforts began at once. While emergency economic control was set up, and the new expanded defence forces underwent arduous training,the NEI air raid precautions depart- ment began to educate the population in vital preparations against mir attacks. In a few months, hundreds of shelters were constructed
in Batavia alone.
'What the Dutch have done to ensure the security of one of the world's richest territories in scant twelve months is surprisin
Army and navy ofcers, facing realities, adinlt that NEI do not constitute an elongated Gibraltar, but the Islands, as prepared as they are now, are not easy to invade.
Air patrols maintain a vigilant watch over the coast day in und' day out, while thousands of nleri young men have been absorbed into an effefent air force, equipped with the latest types of aircraft and served by more than fifty aerodromes.
The NEI Army is fast becoming completely motorised. mobile assembly works and factories in Java huve suppiled several Auto- thousand trucks, combat cars and light carriers for the troops. The goal is an entire force on wheels.
The artillery of the defence forces is not extensive, but the greater part of the army possess the full complement of guns and gunners. There are also formidable tank units.
The NEI is also training parachute troops, though their strength and combat methods-which must be Atted for tropical warfare- remain secret.
Food is no problem; for the islands produce enough to supply the population
for years.
NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES TO-DAY
New anti-tank gun be- ing operated by a Dutch and a Javanese soldier of
the N.E.I. defence forces. forces.
The crew of a Dutch cruiser man“ ning the anti-aircraft guns on board during practice manoeuvres.
LEFT-A Dutch motor torpedo-boat unit going out to sea for practice. ABOVE-Interior view of an East Indies arsenal, showing Javanese workers engaged in shaping aerial bombs for use by the air defence force. BELOW-The "Elephant's Ears," a patented listening device · widely used in the East Indies for detecting the approach of enemy planes and determining their direction.