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[99]

4. SOUTHEAST ASIA AND NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

[100]

A. TRANSLATED BEFORE 7 DECEMBER 1941
From: Batavia (Ishizawa)
To: Tokyo
August 28, 1941
Purple
#895

(Secret outside the department.)

Re my #77 [a].

The large transport planes turned out to be two DC 5's of KUNIRUMU. [b] Now, according to a newspaper report, the KUNIRUMU [b] Company owned planes are:

       5 of the DC 5 type
       3 of the DC 3 type
       3 of the DC 2 type
       14 Lockheeds
       2 of the Sikorsky S 43 type
       2 of the Guranmen [b] G. E. 21 type
       1 De Haviland Dragon
       2 of the Fokker EHS 7 type
       2 of the Fokker LHU 12 type

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And it is understood that the Kacfueru [b] EMU has 4 of the DC 3 type.

While the Java class Cruiser was still at anchor in Puriooku [b] harbor, on the morning of the 27th, one destroyer of the Bankerutu [b] class entered port.

ARMY 21721                                            Trans. 9/3/41 (5)

[a] Not available.
[b] Kana spelling.


[101]

From: Tokyo (Toyoda)
To: Singapore and Batavia
September 6, 1941
Purple
Cir. #1947 (Strictly Secret)

After you have made an immediate investigation on the following matters, please make a report, sending it to us in an appropriate manner.

1. Please inform me as to the various types of fishing entered into by Japanese from the point of view of their use in fishing of gasoline-powered vessels ("gasoline-powered vessels" is a military term for vessels known as "sea arks" which have a considerable cruising ability).

2. In regard to these fishing concerns who operates these so-called "sea arks":

(a) List the number of vessels for each concern separately.

(b) Give the tonnage of each vessel.

(c) The speed of each vessel.

(d) Whether or not they have wireless equipment.

(e) Give the present position of each ship.

(f) Should we require the use of these fishing vessels, please advise us as to the method by which we could transmit instructions for each vessel. (This is particularly important.)

(g) The time of day we should wire these orders. (This is particularly important.)

[102]

(h) Please ascertain the length of time-required subsequent to receipt of orders to move from their present position to the southern part of French Indo-China.

ARMY 22009                                            Trans. 9/10/41 (6)


From: Tokyo
To: Singapore
October 22, 1941
Purple
#316

Strictly secret

From the Vice-Chief of General Staff. Through Chancellor TAHIRA please report the following two things concerning the air force now stationed in the Federated Malay States:

1. Their drills and battle maneuvers (aerial formations).

2. Investigate their organization.

ARMY 23902                                          Trans. 10-24-41 (S)

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From: Tokyo
To: Batavia
October 22, 1941
Purple
#659

To Major KURIYA from the Assistant Chief of Staff.

Will you please inspect and report on the air force in the Dutch Indies in regard to:

1. Training, formation, and aerial combat methods.

2. Organization, types, number and location of planes.

3. Types and number of planes being sent from England and the United States.

ARMY 23893                                          Trans. 10/21/41 (S)


[103]

From: Batavia
To: Tokyo
25 October 1941
(Purple)
#1150

Secret within the Foreign Office.

Secret within the Military.

Please convey to Assistant Chief of Staff: (Very secret).

----- ----- message #25.

As complete and reliable information regarding the N. E. I. air forces is not yet in hand, I will merely report the main items:

(1) Items concerning destroyer units:

(a) Formation ----- 3 planes in small triangle formation (sometimes 4 planes in a diamond shaped formation) and three of these formations making one unit.

(b) As for their combat methods, they have been observed to work on the plan of having three pursuit planes attack light bombers from behind and below, attacking one plane at a time, but aside from this particulars are not known.

(2) Items concerning organization:

(a) Aviation headquarters ----- in the army ----- ----- at Bandoeng. The first Bandoeng air force is at Malang in western Java, and the second air force seems to have charge of eastern and central Java (its symbol is "LFX"). The number of planes stationed there seems to be combat planes 9(?)2 planes ----- ----- light bombers ----- -----.

(b) Types of planes: (The number of planes given in brackets are very unreliable).

Combat (destroyer) planes: ZATAISITHUOOKU and Curtis interceptor. ----- ----- reconnoiter and bombing plane-Curtis-Falcon. (About 5 (?)).

Light bombers: Glen Martin and Lockheed (about 150).

Flying boats: DONIERU (about 20) and recent Catalina 5 seaplanes (medium and small types, about 50).

Page 306

[104]

(c) The number of planes for both army and navy total about 500 of first line planes, and adding second line planes it would come to between 700 and 1000, (including training planes). During the review of troops on 1 September, about 100 planes were flying over Batavia.

(d) Points at which planes are stationed: (numbers given are very unreliable). Also see Java message #18* in regard to stations.

         (1) Aviation force #1. Bandon.
             Light bombers, 30.
             Combat planes, 70.
             KARIJATE "LFX"** and ----- parachute troops (temporarily
                created).
             TIRIRITAN**. Combat planes, 12; light bombers.
                "LFX" BOITE SPORUHU**, combat 70, light bombers, 6.
             PUMXNBUKKU**, (on south coast) ----- some light bombers.
         (2) Aviation force #2. "LFX".
             AARAN**, quite a number of light bombers.
             SOERABAJA, (north field), combat planes, 40; scout planes,
                30;
             light bombers, 30.
             MAOSTMAT0I**, (west of MAJION), light bomber "LFX".
             JOKUJA**, light bomber, combat plane.
         (3) Naval planes:
             SOERABAJA, flying boats, 20, (including some Catalinas
             recently arrived). Seaplanes, "LFX".
             TANJONPURIOOKU**, flying boats, "LFX".
         (4) Outlying territories:
             Menado, flying boats on the lake to the south, "LFX".
               Anbon, flying boat, "LFX". Barikupapan, light bomber,
               "LFX".

[105]

(3) The situation as regards replenishments and arrivals:

(a) Two Catalina flying boats were ferried from the United States in early part of September, and three the latter part of October.

(b) Others, it would seem, are being imported from time to time by American and Dutch ships, but the actual facts are not known.

(c) According to newspaper reports contracts have been made in the United States amounting to $24,000,000 for the purchase of two-motored medium weight bombers of the B type.

(d) The supplementary naval appropriation just passed provides 14,340,000 guilders for plane purchases for the purpose of creating a torpedo plane force.

(e) There seem to be supply depots at each of the flying fields at Soerabaja and Bandoeng; and assembling and repair of planes are done at these places.

(4) Other items:

(a) Of late volunteer flying corps are being organized in various places for the purpose of training second line pilots, and there are already about 40 each in training at Batavia and Soerabaja.

Page 307

(b) Of late there has been an increase of plane accidents (especially light bombers) in the Netherlands East Indies. This is thought to be a result of these efforts at expansion -----.

JD-1: 24185                              (F) Navy Trans. 10-30-41 (6-AR)

*Not available.
**Place name. 


[106]

From: Honkong (Yano)
To: Ottawa
17 November 1941
(J19)
Unnumbered
Hongkong to Tokyo #542

There have been rumors to the effect that the Canada army troops would soon be sent to the Orient.

On the 16th (morning) a Canadian Pacific line steamer came in port guarded by a British warship. This ship had on board about 1000 Canadian soldiers, who were entered in the Kuryushinho barracks.

These troops are Canadian volunteers and are of mixed nationality. They are keeping the strength, etc. of this division a secret, but according to reports another 2000 are expected.

Relayed to Canton, Ottawa. Relay to Shanghai and Nanking.

JD-1: 6874 25431                           (Y) Navy Trans. 11-28-41 (CN)


From: Tokyo (Togo)
To: Singapore
November 18, 1941
Purple
#353

----- ----- that a squadron consisting of eight ships of the 15,000 ton class and ten other boats set out from port on November 4th with about 10,000 British troops, including many aviators heading for the Malay States. Therefore, please pay particular attention to the above.

ARMY 25221                                           Trans. 11-25-41 (6)

[107]

B. TRANSLATED AFTER 7 DECEMBER 1941
From: Tokyo
To: Singapore
5 December 1941
(PA-K2)
#377

(Abstract)

Wants immediate report on ships in port and movements of capital ships.

JD-1: 7446 26263                           (A) Navy Trans. 12-13-41 (AR)
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Page maintained by Larry W. Jewell, lwjewell@omni.cc.purdue.edu. Created: 1/9/97 Updated: 1/12/97