N.Z. TROOPS MOVED FROM LABIS AREA

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30558, 29 September 1964, Page 17

N.Z. TROOPS MOVED FROM LABIS AREA

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) SINGAPORE, September 28. New Zealand troops who have been taking part in the hunt for Indonesian paratroops near Labis, in south central Malaya, have been moved from the area, military officials said today. It is not known where the troops have been sent. It is understood they moved from the Labis area yesterday.

The troops were the First Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, which is part of the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade based at Camp Terendak, near Malacca, in south-west Malaya.

Earlier this month, the New Zealand Government agreed to a Malaysian Government request that the battalion be deployed against the Indonesians in South Malaya.

The battalion patrolled in the hilly jungle north of Labis to back up the Gurkhas who were operating in the area where the paratroopers were hiding. Military officials said the New Zealanders had one contact with the Indonesians: the

capture on the night of September 21 of Second Lieutenant Soetikno—reported by the Malaysian Government to be the leader of the paratroops —and another man. Both men were unarmed, having previously hidden their equipment,- and did not resist. The operations in South Malaya were the first time that New Zealand troops have been deployed against Indonesians. In the past the battalion's operation had been confined to anti-Com-munist patrols along the border between Malaysia and Thailand. The paratroop force, estimated to number about 100 men, dropped in the Labis area of south central Malaya, between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, on the night of September 2. So far, 27 have been killed and about 60 captured. Officials said Soetikno was seen loitering outside a house where a dinner party was in progress, and some of the guests got suspicious. A guest slipped out the back door and went to tip off the Security Forces. New Zealand troops surrounded the area, but Soetikno and the other man, who were both in civilian clothes, did not offer any resistance. Soetikno was very hungry and claimed he had not eaten “for days.” Later, he directed troops where some arms and amnunition were hidden. The Government yesterday said Soetikno had made appeals through leaflets and voice aircraft to the remnants of his force to “stop this useless struggle” and give themselves up.