GAOLS OF PALEMBANG

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1942, Page 7

GAOLS OF PALEMBANG

EMPTIED BY ENEMY

BATAVIA, February 24

When the Japanese entered Palembang they immediately released all the prisoners from the city gaol, who promptly looted the neighbouring pawnbrokers' shops. This is related by a Dutch woman who escaped to Java from the oil centre.

She said that all the Japanese troops carried bundles of bank-notes inscribed: "The Japanese Government promises to pay bearer 10 guilders." From several sources, she said, she heard how unarmed British soldiers had attacked Japanese paratroops armed with tommy guns and grenades. The British killed several of the Japanese -with their bare fists. / Other Dutchmen from Palembang paid a tribute to th^ fine shooting of the Australian anti-aircraft gunners, who held their, fire til 1 the Japanese paratroops had baled out and then blew them to pieces in the air.

A Japanese pilot who was shot down uninjured was recognised as a former cashier from a shop in Palembang. There have been many such instances of Japanese pre-war espionage in the Indies.