INDONESIAN DISPUTE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28534, 13 March 1958, Page 13

INDONESIAN DISPUTE

Capture Of Celebes Town By Rebels

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 11 p.m.) JAKARTA, March 12. The Chief of Staff of the Military Command in East Indonesia, Lieutenant-Colonel Jonosewojo, was reported today to have admitted that rebel forces had captured Gorontalo, in the North Celebes. The American Associated Press reported that the usually reliable newspaper “Suluh Indonesia” quoted Colonel Jonosewojo as saying that reinforcements from Jakarta had been late in arriving, and Gorontalo had fallen to rebels under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel D. J. Somba.

The Central Government earlier claimed that the town had been taken from the rebels.

Colonel Jonosewojo said that the Government commander in the area had fled with his troops into the jungles, and was now organising guerrilla warfare against the rebels.

Rebel leaders in Padang believed that their conflict with the Central Government was nearing a climax, the British United Press reported from Padang yesterday. The news agency’s correspondent said military leaders in Padang were confident that their defences, the difficult terrain, and the support of the people would frustrate all efforts to bring the area under control of the Jakarta Government. Radio Padang claimed last night that hands in a Jakarta factory were working around the clock

turning out Indonesian banknotes. “The staff of this factory are being forced to work night and day to print notes to cheat the public,” the radio said. “The gold reserve, day by day is getting less.” Jakarta Radio yesterday quoted the Antara news agency as saying that Indonesia would this month take delivery of five police patrol boats from German shipyards. Call For Mediation In London today “The Times” called for mediation in the Indonesian rebellion. “Containment of the dispute is what matters to the olitside world. Unfortunately the Sumatra rebellion touches on international interests.” “The Times” said the SouthEast Asia Treaty Organisation meeting in Manila had come at a fortunate time. "All the members of the treaty are vitally concerned with Indonesia and some of them can, in indirect ways, promote further mediation. There is plenty of room for it.” The “Manchester Guardian” said: “The best hope is that after desultory fighting each side will come tacitly to accept the other’s existence.” Russian Aid Reported LONDON, March 11. British sources in Singapore give full credence to reports that Russia is supplying the military needs of the Central Government in Jakarta through Egypt and is preparing to send 20 Soviet MIGIS and MIGI7 jet aircraft to help President Soekarno crush the Sumatran rebels, says the “Daily Telegraph” Singapore correspondent. He adds that about 60 Russian technicians arrived in Jakarta recently. They are believed to be the pilots who will fly these aeroplanes.