Salt Lake Telegram | 1942-02-19 | Page 2 | U. S. Bolsters Java Defenses

0 UI S Si BOLSTERS JAVA DEFENSES BATAVIA N. N E. E I I. Feb 19 Off Expeditionary forces of the United Nations including a relatively small number of Americans b both Americans b 0 oth t h g ground r 0 u n d troops and bomber and fighter pilots from the United States States- have arrived in Java to help defend defend defend de de- de- de fend this island stronghold against the inevitable Japanese Japanese Japanese Japa Japa- nese assault it was announced The combined expeditionary forces known previously Thursday Thursday Thursday Thurs Thurs- day to include Australians it was said authoritatively are by no means large enough yet but their arrival serves as an indication indication indication indica indica- tion that the Netherlands Indies do not fight alone While Dutch forces fought stubborn stubborn stubborn stub stub- born delaying actions in southern Sumatra southern Borneo and southern Celebes the Celebes the stepping steppingstones steppingstones steppingstones stones to the Java citadel of the United States Aneta official Dutch news agency was permitted to disclose the arrival of the united nations' nations forces Mass All Strength The battles on the approaches to Java are helping the united nations nations nations na na- na- na to mass all possible strength to meet the expected invasion of Java Aneta added that American ground troops as well as bomber and fighter pilots which already have aided in the defense of the Indies now are seen frequently in inthe inthe inthe the island heart of the Dutch East Indies and headquarters of the united nations supreme command command command com com- mand in the southwest Pacific Dutch land forces having abandoned abandoned abandoned aban aban- in southern Sumatra Sumatra Sumatra Su Su- Su- Su matra about miles from Batavia Batavia Batavia Ba Ba- tavia itself are continuing stubborn stubborn stubborn stub stub- born fighting against the invaders Island Defended Thus the week end destruction of worth of oil gasoline gasoline gasoline gaso gaso- line refining and transport facilities facilities facilities ties and other property in the area when Japanese parachutists assaulted it last Saturday Saturday Saturday Sat Sat- was not the signal for abandonment abandonment abandonment aban aban- o of southern Sumatra but rather a prelude to redrawing the thel battle line for the southernmost southernmost tip of pf the mile 1000 long island which is separated only by Sunda strait from Java itself The Japanese meanwhile continued continued continued con con- their aerial harassment and reconnaissance of Java and other parts of the N. N E. E L I. but at A heavy cost