RAPID DUTCH PROGRESS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25243, 23 July 1947, Page 7

RAPID DUTCH PROGRESS

Advance Inland Indicated BOTH SIDES ISSUE COMMUNIQUES (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 12.30 a.m.) BATAVIA, July 22. There are indications from a ReSublican communique and from the ogjakarta radio that the Dutch have made rapid progress since they landed at Banjuwangi at the eastern end of Java. They report that two tanks and five trucks arrived at Kalibaroe, on a mountain pass on the road to Surabaya, 30 kilometres inland. Ragodjampi, south-west of Banjuwangi, was attacked with mortars, machine-guns and rifles. A Dutch -communique issued this afternoon says:— ‘‘All objectives for the first 24 hours have been reached. At most points we have even advanced much farther. “In the interests of the action begun yesterday, no details can yet be published. “Dutch losses have been limited, part of them being caused by landmines and booby traps laid along or near the demarcation lines. “The population remains quiet and continues at work. arson are reported in only a few places. “Measures had to be taken to safeguard the large towns in Sumatra, where everything is completely calm and normal, just as in the large towns under Netherlands control in Java.” The Dutch communique reports that Dutch Kittyhawk and Mustang fighters carried out operations in several parts of Java, Republican airfields being the particular objects of attack. Ten Republican aeroplanes are reported to have been destroyed. The Republican communique says: • “Fighting started at Tamboen- and Tjibarusa, a few miles across the east sector of the Batavia perimeter, yesterday.” It adds that the Dutch launched an attack southwards on the Samarang front.