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Makassar (119.427E
5.127S) was founded by the Portuguese in the 16th century,
and seized by the Dutch in
1667. It has an
excellent deepwater harbor
and exports coffee, copra, spices,
and rattan.
In 1941, it was the principal Dutch
naval base guarding the Makassar Strait and the capital of Celebes. It in turn was
guarded by just two
small coastal guns, an airstrip, and a battalion of militia (about 1200 men). There was a
relatively
well-developed road network in the immediate vicinity.
Battle of
Makassar Strait. On 3-4 February 1942, an Allied task force of four cruisers and seven destroyers attempted to intercept
a Japanese convoy in Makassar
Strait. The Allied force was spotted by Japanese
land-based aircraft,
which on
4
February severely damaged Marblehead and moderately
damaged Houston, forcing the Allied
force to turn back.
The Dutch garrison at Makassar decided that they
could not hold the town, and they prepared to fall back to Enrekang,
110 miles (180 km) north, to conduct a guerrilla campaign. About 400 natives were recruited. On
9 February 1942 Combined Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force
landed some 8000 troops, who took the town against light resistance
from the Dutch rearguard. Within a month the native troops had deserted
and some 300 Dutch were taken prisoner.
The Japanese subsequently established a camp for
Dutch prisoners of war at
Makassar. The camp commander, Yoshida, was a sadist who engaged in
frequent beatings and other abuse
of the prisoners. Prisoners were
forced to climb trees full of fire ants and were beaten unconscious for the
least infraction. On 14 March 1945 Yoshida ordered all prisoners from
the camp hospital to parade at
the camp gate, where they were soaked by
torrential rain. A number of prisoners subsequently died of exposure.
Climate Information:
Elevation 6'
Temperatures: Jan 84/74, Apr 86/74, Jul 86/70, Oct 87/72, record 95/58
Rainfall: Jan 25/27.0, Apr 10/5.9, Jul 4/1.4, Oct 5/1.7 == 112.2" per annum
References
Russell
(1958)
"The
capture of Makassar, February 1942" (accessed 2009-5-27)
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