FAR EAST STRIFE

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1945, Page 5

FAR EAST STRIFE

CHINESE ARMIES CLASH WAR LORDDISMISSED CHUNGKING, October 4. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek is reported to have deposed the war lord Lung Yun as Governor of Yunnan Province, and also to have taken over Lung Yun’s army,- which has long been the best fed and best equipped in South-west China. Lung Yun has also been removed from his posts as director of Marshal Chiang’s headquarters at Kunming, capital of Yunnan, and vice-commander, of the Chinese Supreme Headquarters. A division of Chinese national troops has moved into Kunming. The American commander has ordered an 8 p.m. curfew in the Kunming area, and American troops are forbidden to enter the city. “Bttter and widespread. street fighting broke out in Kunming between Chinese national troops and Yunnanese provincial troops, following Lung Yun’s removal from office, says the Chungking correspondent of the “New York Times.” “The fighting began at dawn yesterday, when national troops marched into the city to take over Lung Yuns forces. Casualties are believed to be heavy on both sides. A witness reported that machine-gun fire was heard in the northern part of. the city, and added that the national troops were armed with Americanmade cannon, bazookas, machineguns, and tommy-guns.” Kunming is the terminus of tne American overland supply line, to China, and has been spared fighting during the war. The “New York Times” corrrespondent. comments that this is Marshal Chiang’s . first action against the war lords in an attempt to unify China. LATER.

Major-General H. S. Aurand, commander of the United States Supply Unit, has announced that the Kun.ming fighting has ceased and the situation is returning to normal. INDO-CHINA NEGOTIATIONS LONDON, October 4. The French Minister of the Navy (M. Louis Jacquinot) announced that more French warships, including the aircraft-carrier Bearn, were going to Saigon to reinforce the battleship Richlieu and the cruiser Triomphant, which have arrived at the port carrying French troops. M. Jacquinot said that the naval forces were being sent “to help in re-establishing full French sovereignty over IndoChina.” , ± . „ At Saigon five representatives of the French Government met Annamite leaders at the headquarters of Major-General Gracey, head of the Allied Commission. Major-General Gracey told the conference that British troops were in Indo-China solely to disarm the Japanese, and that they would be withdrawn as soon as the job was completed. A decision was reached by tne conference that the hostages held by the Annamese should at once be released. It was also agreed to hold another meeting within three days. RETURN OF HOSTAGES. (Rec. 10.40 a.m.) T ~ L . . SAIGON, October 4. Major-General Gracey has ordered the Annamese to return all French hostages and hand over the body of the American, Colonel Dewey, killed in the recent disturbances. The Annamese agreed to comply. Talks between the French, and Annamese are continuing. The cease fire exists only, until, next Saturday.

INDONESIAN RISING REBELS HOLD SOURABAYA

(Recd. 12.20 p.m.) v BATAVIA, October 4. Although Batavia is fairly quiet, tension is mounting elsewhere m Java. Indonesian nationalists have acquired almost complete control of the big naval base of Sourabaya. Fighting broke out to-day between the Japanese and Indonesians when a mob of three thousand Indonesians surrounded the Japanese gestapo headquarters. No details are available but it is known there were casualties on both sides. The Nationalists control Sourabaya airfield and are not allowing planes to land there. Nationalists at Bandoeng apparently obtained many arms from the Japanese, including armoured cars and appear to be in full control of the city. They instituted a curfew. Local police are taking orders from the local political leader, and are trying to keep peace. The Japanese are demoralised and appear to be handing over arms under threat, rather than from and deliberate policy of backing the Nationalist movement. Nationalists controlling the local newspapers are pumping out virulent anti-Dutch propaganda. Conditions in Sourabaya and Bandoeng are not exceptional. A similar state prevails throughout Java and the Nationalists.with every day that passes are strengthening their hold and becoming better organised. There are so far no reports of the camps of interned civilians scattered throughout Java being molested. Members of the Allied War Prisoner Relief Organisation, are being respected. Things were quiet in Batavia during the day, but gangs of young Nationalists at night time, armed with knives and bamboo pikes, and some with rifles begun establishing roadblocks. There have been demonstrations outside Dutchmen’s houses, but no incidents in the past few days involving physical violence against the Dutch. British officers are treated with respect. Two more Indian regiments arrived in Batavia and joined the Seaforth Highlanders. The occupation of the city is proceeding smoothly. Looting continues although on a diminished scale. The Seaforth Highlanders’ patrols last night fired on looters and disarmed some " marauding noctural bands. x „ ~ The Hilvensum radio reports that the Government ordered the transfer of 6,500 Dutch troops from Britain to the East Indies. They are sailing next Monday. . . „ „ Interviewed by “The Times s Batavia correspondent, Soekarno declared he and his followers were strongly opposed to any landings by Dutch forces. He could not say what would happen if the Dutch did land. BATAVIAN DEVELOPMENTS LONDON,'October 4. “The Kempeitai, or Japanese Gestapo, is unable or unwilling to give a list of crimps supposed to have been committed in Batavia,” says the special reresentative of the Associated Press in Malaya. “The Japanese even orofessed ignorance of such things as bicycle pilfering. The Kempeitai is 'more concerned with rounding up motor-cars for the use of the British forces. It is part of the unreal situation in Batavia that we are still the guests of the ‘Son of Heaven,’ who supplies board and lodging at the elaborate Hotel des Indcs and free motor transport. All foreign currency must be handed to Dutch officials at the airport and the only currency in circulation is Japanese invasion guilders. This is being done by the order of the Dutch officials to prevent rapid inflation of Japanese currency so as to put the necessities of life beyond the purses of the newly released Dutch housewives who have no money but Japanese?’