MORE CRIMES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 47, 5 December 1945, Page 4

MORE CRIMES

MURDER AND TORTURE INDONESIAN EXTREMISTS (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 2 p.m.) BATAVIA, Dec. 4. Murder, torture, starvation beating, eye-gouging and the amputation of limbs are among the v atrocities committed by Indonesian extremists against Indian prisoners after landing in Sourabaya, states a report received by Sir Philip Christison. from the commander of the 49th Indian Infantry Brigade. : 'j The report added that the limbs o£ ft- one captured officer were dismembered V after his murder and flung from one person to another. Describing the sequence of events, the report stated that all went well at 2' first, and agreement was made with 1% Dr. Moestopo and other moderates. There* seemed every prospect of re- < moving the Japanese and evacuating the wbineh and children. However,. Dr. Moestopo secretly left Sourabaya on October 27, and next day a carefully planned attack, supported by '■> ‘ tanks and armoured cays, was launched against all British forces by 20,000 Jaan ese-trained and armed regular In- . donesian. troops- and by an uncontrolled moh of 120,000 armed with Japa■r nese;. rifles, swords,-: poisoned spears, clubs and daggers.

. r -- Fourteen Persons Perish Another message says that Dakotas to-day. began a shuttle service between ■ Batavia and Bandoeng, flying from Malirattas' : to Bandeong where the situation has deteriorated. Extremists at Bandoeng yesterday locked 14 persons in. a house and set fir.e to it with petrol. All are reported to have been incinerated. The Dutch News Agency reports, that British reinforcements and mortars repelled Extremists attacks against British headquarters at Band-: oeng; British warships again, shelled Indonesian concentrations at Semerang. The Allied-controlled Bandoeng radio stated that British and Indian casualties in. Java to December2 totalled 845, comprising 21 British and 110 Indians killed; 57 British and 471 Indians wounded, seven British and 179 Indians; .missing. In an interview to-day, Mr Satan Sjahrir, Premier of the Indonesian Republican Government, said that the Indonesians would not accept Dominion status. He added: “We do not mean by independance living alone. Our meaning of independance certainly recognises the importance of having ties, .especially with, countries economically and geographically close to us.” Mr Sjahrir said he accepted the official statement of British role in Java. “We do not think that the British have done anything to show that they are systematically working in the direction of restoring Dutch Sovereignty.”