COMMUNIST AREA IN JAVA

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25608, 24 September 1948, Page 7

COMMUNIST AREA IN JAVA

Republican Troops Begin Offensive DRIVE AGAINST MADIUN

(Rec. 11 p.m.) BATAVIA, Sept 23. The Indonesian Republican Army began a three-pronged drive against the Communist-held town and province of Madiun. in Central Java, on Tuesday, says an Indonesian news agency report from Jogjakarta. The Republican troops, according to the agency, have pushed back the Indonesian Communists to within 12* miles of the town of Madiun. Military authorities in Jogjakarta expressed confidence that they could restore Madiun to Republican Government hands in the T shortest possible time.

Earlier reports said that the Republican army was massing 10,000 troops for the attack on Madiun. The Communists were estimated to have a garrision of 3000 to 4000 armed soldiers, who are deserters from the Republicp.n army. The Communist-controlled Madiun radio sent a call to Communists throughout Indonesia. It said: "Be careful for attacks, be vigilant, and stay on the offensive.” The Republican military authorities in Jogjakarta reported that fighting was still going on to-day at Ngawi. 20 miles north-cast of Madiun. Magedan, west of Madiun, was still in Communist bands. The Madiun aerodrome, six miles west of the town, was under Republican control, although Republican troops were fighting against attackers. In Ngandjuk, a railway town 25 miles east of Madiun, Republican troops had successfully forestalled a Communist drive and local armed members of the Socialist Youth Movement, Pesindo, had been disarmed. Patjitan, a coastal town and Communist ' stronghold about 60 miles south-west of Madiun, was in the hands of the Republic. The civil population at Djetis. in Madiun province, which was in Communist hands, had begun their own offensive with what weapons they possessed. Communist disturbers had been arrested by people there, who expressed loyalty to the Republican Government.