FIGHTING IN JAVA

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 December 1945, Page 5

FIGHTING IN JAVA

DUTCH CAPTURES.

LONDON, December 20.

To-day’s Allied communique from Batavia reports that Netherlands troops are now engaged in active operations in Java. It says that Netherlands troops captured an airfield near Batavia, seizing quantities of arms, ammunition, and vehicles. In eastern Java troops of the West Yorkshire Regiment entered a port about 10 miles east of Sourabaya. They found conditions normal and the population friendly.

The situation at Semarant is still uneasy, with Indonesian concentrations eastward. Forces at Whineh cleared the troublesome northern sector of Bandoeng and found many weapons, including blunderbusses, in a hotel which had been strongly defended. The total British and Indian casualties in the Netherlands Indies fighting to December 14 is now 178 killed and 742 wounded, while 175 are missing.

A message from The Hague says that Dr. van Mook, Dutch LieutenantGovernor of the East Indies, has arrived from Batavia. He is expected to go to London at the week-end for consultations with the British Government.

SEAMEN ABDUCTED.

SYDNEY, December-20.

Two Indonesian seamen who had expressed their willingness to sign on the Dutch hospital ship Tasman were whisked mysteriously from their beds in a lodging house in a Sydney suburb at 2 a.m. to-day by a gang of about 200 Indonesians and Lascars.

The police and the Dutch Royal Packet Navigation Company, which owns the Tasman, have received only brief news of the happening. It is reported that the Lascars and Indonesians entered the lodging house, lifted the two men forcibly from their beds, and-disappeared with them. No hint has been received as to where the men were taken.

U.S.A. ATTITUDE.

WASHINGTON, December 20.

The United States State Department, in its first policy statement on Indonesia, expressed increasing concern over the situation and the hope that all the parties would soon renew their attempts to reach agreement. “Extremist or irresponsible action, or failure to present or consider specific proposals, can only lead to a disastrous situation,” says the statement. “The primary responsibility rests on the Dutch and Indonesian leaders, but the United States cannot fail to be deeply interested. Our sole desire is to see such a peaceful' settlement as will best aid world stability and prosperity and the happiness of the people. It is hoped that a settlement will be reached in harmony with the principles.and ideals of the United Nations Declaration and Charter.” The State Department acknowledged that the United States shared the responsibility for the decision to send British troops to Indonesia, but only for the purposes of accepting the surrender of the Japanese forces and removing them, liberating prisoners of war, and assuring the safety of civilians interned by the Japanese. “The United States had no thought of extending the Allied mandate beyond these specific responsibilities,” says the statement. “However, it has been necessary for the British troops to assure such order as is necessary for the execution of the Allied objectives. LONDON DISCUSSIONS

(Rec. 11.10 a.m.) THE HAGUE, December -20.

The Netherlands News Agency announced that the Prime Minister, M. Schermerhorn, will leave for London on December 26 for discussions on Indonesia with Mr Attlee. M. Van Mook, the Colonial Minister, M. Logemann, and the Deputy Foreign Minister, M. Van Royen, are accompanying him.

SINGAPORE STRIKERS

(Rec. 11.5 a.m.) SINGAPORE, December 20. Six thousand strikers denidristrated in front of the British Military Headquarters, carrying banners hearing such slogans as “We want rice. We protest against Imperialism and Anglo-French-Dutch oppression of Annam and Indonesia.” Police stood by during the demonstration.