JAVA CLASH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21853, 25 October 1945, Page 5

JAVA CLASH

INDONESIANS FLEE DUTCH IN ACTION SOEKARNCTS CABINET TALKS WITH CHRISTISON (10.30 a.m.) BATAVIA, Oct. 24. A clash between Indonesian extremists and Dutch soldiers at Kebajoran, six miles south of Batavia, yesterday resulted in 30 Indonesians being killed before the attackers fled in disorder, reports the Australian Press Association's special correspondent. They left behind two machine-guns. One Dutch officer was wounded. The Indonesians were not an organised 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 100,000 is massing south of the capital, but an intelligence officer considers that the force is probably several hundred unco-ordinated irregulars only. The Dutch, since they took over the Kebajoran and Tjililitan airfields, have killed nearly 100 of such irregulars. Exchange of Views The whole Indonesian Cabinet, including Dr. Soekarno, at General Sir Philip Christison’s invitation, spent two hours at his headquarters last night, talking to him and Mr. Denning, Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten’s political adviser. It is understood that the meeting was “social" and unofficial, but the parties exchanged views. Commenting on the meeting, the correspondent says: “The fact that the meeting took place is an important, hopeful, forward step, but it is easy to over-estimate its significance. At most it would not be wise to regard it as more than an attempt to enable Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten’s political representative to gain a first-hand understanding of the Indonesians’ point of view. To what extent it will help to prepare common grounds for a meeting of the parties depends on a number of unknown factors the most notable being whether the parties are even prepared to meet.” The Allied forces in Bandoeng have taken over the radio station, the most powerful in the East Indies, from which the Indonesians have been broadcasting statements and propaganda. Second “Black Hole of Calcutta” Alleging maladministration and a complete lack of care on the part of the Netherlands Indies colonial administration, Lieut.-Colonel Mellsop, the British Army spokesman, described the “second Black Hole of Calcutta” in Java, referring to Buitenzorg. Colonel Mellsop said that large numbers of Indonesians were crowded under indescribably foul conditions in a Dutch gaol. The prisoners were clothed in rags and were starved. One prison contained 203 Indonesians who were accused of looting, but who had not been tried. Colonel Mellsop later found another building where the prisoners showed signs of beatings. The prisoners were being taken to a British gaol, and those facing minor charges were being released. Colonel Mellsop also visited Buitenzorg and said the conditions there were bad, but were better than in the Batavia prison. The Netherlands Navy announced that the cruiser Tromp landed troops and a detachment of civil administration men on Billiton Island, off northeast Sumatra, “without difficulties,” and that they had occupied Tandjong and Padang.