ARMS HANDED TO INDONESIANS

Dominion, Volume 39, Issue 27, 26 October 1945, Page 7

ARMS HANDED TO INDONESIANS

Arrest Of Japanese General ORDER BY BRITISH (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received October'2s, 5.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 25. The British have arrested General Nakamura, commander-in-chief of the Japanese forces in central Java, for allowing his troops to surrender their arms to the Indonesians, instead of keeping them as instructed by Admiral Mountbatten. Two thousand Japanese allegedly handed over their arms, including heavy equipment, without a struggle. UNOFFICIAL? MEETING Indonesian Cabinet And British Leaders BATAVIA. October 24. The whole Indonesian Cabinet, including Dr. Soekarno, at General Christison’s invitation spent two hours at his headquarters last night talking to him and Mr. Denning, Admiral Mountbatten’s political adviser. It is understood that the meeting wns “social” and unofficial, but that the parties exchanged views. An Associated Press correspondent says the fact that the meeting took place is an important and hopeful forward step, but it is easy to overestimate its significance. It would not be wise to regard it as more than an attempt to enable Admiral Mountbatten’s political representative to gain a firsthand understanding of the Indonesians’ point of view. To what extent it will help to prepare common grounds for. the meeting of the parties depends ou a number of unknown factors, the most notable being whether the parties are even prepared to meet. The Allied forces occupying Bandoeng have taken over the radio station, the most powerful in the East Indies, from which the Indonesians have been broadcasting statements ami propaganda. “Anger Against Dutc.li."

Dr. Soekarno, on his return from a nineteen days’ tour of western Java, reported that the extremists are still very strong. He had tried to appease them, but the people's anger was aroused against the Dutch and the Japanese. He wanted to prevent the present problem becoming a racial issue and wauled to try to solve the problem peaceably. Dr. Soekarno said he still aimed at obtaining recognition of the Indonesian republic by the United Nations. He was willing to talk to British representatives, but would not discuss the subject with the Dutch. He was inviting committees from the British House of Commons and the American Congress to visit Indonesia to see the true situation for themselves. Dr. Soekarno said today that, he had asked the United States to intervene in the dispute. He would also like Russia and China to act as mediators. A clash between Indonesian extremists and Dutch soldiers at: Kebajorau, six miles south of Batavia, yesterday, resulted iu 30 of the Indonesians being killed before they fled in disorder, reports the special correspondent of the Associated Press. They left two machineguns behind. One Dutch officer was wounded. The Indonesians were not an organized force, but are believed to be one of a number of bands from western Java who have been drawn to the capital by hunger and the chance of loot. It was rumoured yesterday that a force of 100,090 was massing south of the capital, but an intelligence officer considers that probably these are only some hundreds of unco-ordinated irregulars. (Since taking over the Kebajorau and Tjililitau airfields the Dutch have killed nearly 100 such irregulars. Use of Lend-Lease Arms.

The United States objects to the use of iend-lease arms for political purposes as they have been employed by the British and Dutch in the Far East, said Mr. Byrnes, Secretary of State, at a Press conference, states a Washington message. lie added that the British and Dutch had been asked to remove the United States emblem from military equipment they were using against the nationalists in Indo-China and Java. This policy of objection applied _ everywhere, and. if not already invoked it should be, in South America or any other section of the world.

ON LONELY ISLAND

27 Graves Discovered SINGAPORE, October 21. Twenty-seven graves have been found on Bintan Island, just south of Singapore. Natives say they contain the bodies of soldiers who escaped from Singapore in February, 1942, and were captured and executed by the .Japanese, The nationality of lite victims Ims not y>'t. been determined.

A thorough search will be made by army authorities of all lite small islands immediately to the south in case any Allied servicemen who escaped Irotu Ma'.nya are still there awaiting rescue. The search may take a year.