SHOOTING DOWN OF MERCY PLANE: DUTCH EXPLAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 July 1947, Page 7

SHOOTING DOWN OF MERCY PLANE: DUTCH EXPLAIN

BATAVIA, July 30. “If it is established that the aircraft shot down over Jogjakarta was a Dakota loaded with medical supplies, those responsible have been guilty of culpable carelessness, the serious outcome of which is greatly regretted by the Netherlands Government,” says a Dutch communique. “If the Netherlands Government had previously been warned that medical supplies were being sent to Jogjakarta in this manner, every assistance would have been given to effect safe conduct,” the Dutch communique adds. Earlier Incidents “Netherlands military aircraft had been active since yesterday morning in connection with a Republican aeroplane of Japanese origin that had dropped two bombs on Samarang. Measures were taken to prevent a repetition. Reconnaissance flights were carried out over Republican airfields. “Late in the afternoon a twinengined aircraft was observed flying low over trees close to an airfield. A warning salvo was fired, after which the aeroplane touched the tree-tops and burst into flames. The .identification markings were not observed and the machine had been seen only in silhouette. “No official agreement had been made for an aeroplane to bring medical supplies. It has been established that not a single Netherlands East Indies authority knew anything of an intended Red Cross aeroplane, or even a private aeroplane, arriving with medical supplies.” Chinese Losses The Netherlands East Indies Government has given an assurance to China that it will do its utmost to prevent further destruction of Chinese property in Indonesia. The assurance is understood to have followed a meeting between the Dutch Lieutenant-General (Dr van Mook) and the Chinese Consul-General (Mr Chiang), who is believed to have expressed strongly the Chinese Government’s attitude.