LATEST REPORTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 243, 26 July 1947, Page 5

LATEST REPORTS

Many Violent Clashes i ■ ■* (Rec. 10.50 a.m.) BATAVIA, July 25. A Republican Army communique stated that violent clashes occurred at Probolingo, and at Loemadjang, 28 miles soith of Probolinggo, in which “the whole population” participated. ' in Central Java, Republican forces supported by the local population, penetrated the outskirts of Semarang. In the town itself, fighting has broken out between the Dutch and their own mercenaries, which is continuing. In Western Java, fighting is continuing at Soemadank, Krawang and Cheribon. Clashes at Tjimahi, six miles north-west of Bandoeng, are, reported. * Three Dutch aircraft yesterday raided Koeningen, 18 miles south of Cheribon. The Dutch, this, morning, bombarded the port of Tegal, 45 miles east of Cheribon. 'V?

Dutch forces are reported to be concentrating at Tjitpjalengka, eight miles east of Bandoeng.

In Sumatra, the situation is characterised by attacks and counter-attacks. Some Republican forces penetrated the south-eastern section of Medan. Republicans at Duraantarung surrounded a Dutch force. Skirmishes and artillery duels occurred elsewhere. A Republican Army spokesman revealed to-night that the Republican forces captured yesterday a large stock of ammunition on the eastern Semarang front, when the Dutch retreated after heavy Indonesian coun-ter-attacks. The spokesman added that street fighting was reported on the outskirts of Salatiga. Other army reports stated that Indonesian units were threatening Dutch communications near Unkarag, 12 miles north of Salatiga.

BREN, GUN VERSUS PLANES SEVERAL HITS CLAIMED (Rec. 11 a.m.) BATAVIA, July 25. The Jogjakarta radio stated that Jogjakarta’s famous * Bren gun to-day drove off two Dutch aircraft, which appeared low over the town and airfield, and is believed to have scored a hit on one machine. This is the third plane hit by the Bren gun which is manned by an Indonesian soldier, whq, according to the radio, served with the British forces in Tobruk. Another report-from the Jogjakarta radio says that a special Indian brigade will be formed to-morrow in Re publican territories. The radio said that, according to a message intercepted at Jogjakarta, .people in the Celebes revolted and fighting, has broken out south of Macassar.

APPEAL FOR ORDER “MERELY POLICING ACTION” (Rec. 10.45 a.m.) BATAVIA, July 25. .An appeal to everyone who lived and worked in areas occupied by the Netherlands troops in the last five days to give their utmost co-operation for the speedy return of law and order was broadcast to-night by Mr Van Mook. “The Government appeals to everyone, no matter where or on which side to everyone who really accepts the Linggadjati agreement and who realises his responsibility for the restoration of peace, justice and prosperity in Indonesia,” he said. Mr Van Mook, speaking later to Australia, Malaya, America and New Zealand, said that the Netherlands were ready to instal an interim Government as soon as the constructive elements in Indonesia could be consulted. What happened was not war against the people, but policing action proved necessary by the wanton destruction an’d vandalism of the property of non-Indonesians in territory where the authority of the Republic was crumbling. . The Dutch casualties had not yet entered three figures, and those of the dissolving Republican Army were not. much higher.

APPEAL FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES (Rec. 11 a.m.) BATAVIA, July 255. The head of the Indonesian Red Cross to-night appealed over the Jogjakarta radio to Mrs Malcolm McDonald, wife of the Governor-General of Malaya, and to the women of Malaya, to send “medical and Red Cross supplies immediately by air to Indonesia.” Speaking in English, Mise Koernianingrat said she was addressing the appeal “on behalf of the women of Indonesia to the women of Malaya, because only from Malaya can medical supplies arrive in time to. prevent further needless suffering.” The speaker said the Dutch consistently refused to permit the importation of medical -supplies into Republican territory, and “v,-e are totally unequipped with supplies for sick or wounded, and> desperately short of every kind of medical stores for modern warfare.”