DUTCH REPORT GAINS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25248, 29 July 1947, Page 7

DUTCH REPORT GAINS

Comment By Indonesian Spokesman

INDIAN MEASURES TO AID REPUBLICANS

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) . BATAVIA, July 28. Dutch communiques continue tn . • s . Java and Sumatra, and report little ? aulB ln _^®9 l latest captures include a big coalmine r ® BlBt «»ce. Their southern Sumatra oilfields. Sumatra and all the

war Dutch capital of Sumatra. P e ° f Medan ’ the P re_

first scale revolt of the Indonesian preple” Taid an 11/J’T' Army spokesman, reviewing the progress S «J? d T ing to the Jogjakarta radio. He revealed that the Dnreh “ cc ? rd ' and Sumatra had employed four diktons and wobrigade* ™ Weapo,U! - They I° B ‘ sereral hTfted

The Indonesian spokesman further commented that the Indonesians had just begun their resistance and' that underS V n e . m fh± Were < grOWing - Even ln towns now under Dutch control these symptoms were already perceptible. Many t D h^^Xh e o n Ss. he tUrned th - weapons agS Sjahrir, the Republican envoy, interviewed bv the New Delhi correspondent of the “Daily Worker,” said: ‘‘The morale of the Dutch troops in Indonesia is very bad.” The reason was that 30,000 to 40,000 troops were duTfor demobiIns? n and 7®* now Pressing to be sent home. He added that India would help Indonesia by grounding Dutch aeroplanes passing through Calcutta and Karachi and by refusing facilities to Dutch ships at Bombay and Colombo.

INLAND DRIVE FROM PALEMBANG

“Dutch forces in their drive inland from the oil port of Palembang have now secured Sumatra’s biggest coal mine, in addition to its southern Dutch, British, and American oilfields?’ says a Dutch communique. "The coal mine is at Bukit Asem. about 120 miles inland from Palembang. It is one of the biggest open-cut mines in the southern hemisphere, and has been operated by Indonesians for the past two years with equipment provided by the British occupation forces. Its capture ensures coal supplies for all Netherlands coastal and overseas shipping requirements in Indonesian waters.

“The occupation of Sumatra's southern oilfields is being consolidated. The attitude of the remaining personnel appears favourable.

“In addition to taking Bukit Asem, the Dutch forces have occupied Muara Enim and Lahat, in southern Sumatra. Lahat is the biggest railway workshop centre in Sumatra, where the Republicans are known to have been manufacturing rifles and British-pattem Sten guns. “In the northern sector of the Dutch drive from Palembang the Republicans burned several villages and drove the inhabitants into the interior “To safeguard shipping from Dukit Lampu on the west coast of Sumatra the Dutch forces have occupied the Bunkud Bay valley. The Dutch forces took the Republicans by surprise and met only a little sniper fire.” The communique also reports the occupation of Pengalengan, 20 miles south of Bandoeng, in West Java. Reporting on the capture of the north coast Javanese port of Tegal, the communique says: “After offering slight

initial resistance the Republican troops threw away their uniforms and weapons and cheered the oncoming Netherlands troops.” “In the middle of Java Republican troops continued to attack near Genuksari, in the east part of the occupied Samarang zone, using women as shields,” said an earlier communique. “They were repulsed with losses. Subsequently, Dutch troops carried out a clearing sweep. They were hampered by Republican artillery.” The communique said that Dutch casualties were now 41 killed, 75 wounded, and eight missing. A Dutch announcement says that from to-morrow the harbours of Cheribon, Probolinggo and Banjuwangi will be opened to normal trade. The January regulations demanding that every vessel submit to investigation at Batavia, Samarang, or Surabaya have been abrogated.

INDONESIANS REPORT FIGHTING

“Ten hours’ continuous fighting raged on both sides . of the Brantas river, west of Modjokerto, in Java yesterday, when the Dutch used 11 tanks to support infantry in an endeavour to break the Republican siege.” said a broadcast over the Jogjakarta radio yesterday.

“The enemy finally succeeded .in dispersing the Indonesian positions by a barrage from field-guns, tanks, and aircraft. A Dutch armoured column moved towards Gempolkerep, three miles west of Modjokerto.” A Republican Army communique, quoted by the radio, said that a lone Dutch fighter for several hours strafed Malang with dum-dum bullets. It added _ that fighting continued at Lumudjang after a Dutch landing at Pasirian, 10 miles to the south. The Dutch, it was stated, massacred all in

the city wearing uniform, and arrested many Indonesia youths. The Republican communique said that the Dutch were using the full strength of their ground forces at Samarang, supported by tanks, aircraft, and warships in the harbour, to halt the Indonesian advance on the port.

The communique claimed that the Republicans repulsed a Dutch attack from Modjokerto on Dawarblandong, and that the Indonesians were advancing on Modjokerto. Dutch warships yesterday shelled the port of Grisse, west of Surabaya, wounding five persons and destroying many buildings. In West Java, Republican forces yesterday reoccupied Tjimahi, six miles west-north-west of Bandoeng, and bidangwangi, three miles north of Tijitjalengka.