Dramatic Rescue Of Java Prisoners

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 250, 22 October 1945, Page 5

Dramatic Rescue Of Java Prisoners

SEMARANG OCCUPIED 1000 Locked Up Ten Days By Indonesians N.Z.P.A.—Copyright—Rec. 12.30 p.m. BATAVIA, Oct. 21. British and Indian troops completed the occupation of Semarang and rescued nearly 1000 persons who had been locked up by the Indonesians for ten days. The Indonesian "Minister of Defence" has accepted the order issued by Major-General Hawthorn, commander of the Allied troops in Java, that all Indonesians except the civil police in the British-controlled area must be disarmed, said an Army spokesman. The British forces, he added, had the situation at Semarang in hand after three days of patrolling and skirmishing. Another British brigade would land next Tuesday.

Reuters correspondent reports that the position in Batavia is fairly quiet, but early this morning rifle fire broke out near Tanabon camp for freed prisoners. There were no casualties. Brigadier McDonald, commander of British troops in the Bandoeng area, summoned Nationalist leaders and announced that the death penalty would be imposed for any form of violence or disorder. He stressed the fact that Britain is not interested in political issues in Java, but solely in the restoration of order, for which reason he demanded co-operalion with the British troops exclusively. Gurkhas are patrolling the streets of Bandoeng. Japanese troops are still occupying the airfield.