TERROR AT BANDOENG

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 306, 24 November 1945, Page 5

TERROR AT BANDOENG

JAVA TROUBLE CENTRE INTERNEES LONDON, -Nov. 23. The main trouble centre in Java has moved to Bandoeng, 75 miles from Batavia, where a campaign of terror is being waged against liberated internees and relief personnel. Looting, robbery and violence have broken out on a larg* scale and Allied nationals are believed to be in considerable danger. The Associated Press correspondentsays that Japanese troops under British command, battled with the Indonesians in the eastern suburbs of Semarahg while attempts to negotiate peace between the Dutch and Indonesian troops failed. A British spokesman said the Japanese were good troops who fought well. Another detachment of Gurkhas has reached the threatened Rapwi camp at Ambarawa after fighting their way against strong opposition from Megalang, while a British column with tank and artillery support from Semarang met slight opposition, says a British communique.The Times correspondent says that, if the British are going to perform their most eseential task, namely the rescuing of Dutch internees, they will need twice the present number of troops. If they are also going to disarm the Indonesians and put the Dutch back in power, they will need many more. The British are now so closely identified with the Dutch in the eyes of the Indonesians that their mediating value is low—they are too involved. The next step obviously is to invite the good offices of some other Power not already involved, , whose arbitration would be acceptable to both sides, and America is the obvious choice. Speedy action is needed in the situation, which is deteriorating now not daily but hourly.