STILL AT LARGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25357, 12 November 1945, Page 5

STILL AT LARGE

BIG JAPANESE FORCE TASK FOR THE BRITISH ARMS FOB INDONESIANS '(Ttecd. 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov 11 A spokesman for the British Command at Sourabaya said the British troops still had to collect 20,000 Japanese soldiers and sailors at Sourabaya. He added that the arms which the British had demanded from the Indonesians originally belonged to those Japanese. In an earlier message, an agency correspondent said the disappearance of a Japanese , force estimated to total 20,000, which was previously based on Sourabaya and Eastern Java, was causing concern at British headquarters. The Japanese were reported to have marched out of Sourabaya on learning that the British intended to land there, and had not been contacted since. The possibility of the Japanese linking up with the extremists in Central Java was not being discounted. They were led by Marigon Iwabu, who was already wanted by the British to answer a charge of handing oveif arms to Indonesians at Sourabaya, and were believed to bo a heavily armed force, including more than 10,000 Japanese navy men and marines from the Sourabaya naval base.

Dr Soebardjo, the Indonesian Foreign Minister, on Friday sent a letter to General Christison urging that the latter's ultimatum regarding the givingup of arms should not be enforced, as measures for the immediate disarmament of "the irresponsible part of the population would inevitably lead to bloodshed and still greater disorders." He declared that the Indonesian Republic Would endeavour to pacify Sourabaya, but the task would require time and much tact. He admitted that it was not in the Government's interest that irresppnsibles should possess arms which in the long run might endanger the State itself. He concluded: "I beg you to use the method least provoking and most appropriate to gain control of the situation." A message from Tokyo says BrigadierGeneral Thorpe told interviewers that Indonesians trained in discontent are responsible for the present fighting in tlie Netherlands East Indies. The Japanese maintained a "School for Greater East Asia Culture" at St. Paul's TTni'versitv in Japan, which was attended by Malayans, Chinese, Koreans, Manchnrians, Burmese and Filipinos. They ivere trained in arousing native populations against colonial rule. The school left intellectual landmines which were still going off. Some propagandists had already been arrested and returned to Various Governments, but hundreds of others were still at large. BrigadierGeneral Thorpe . added that Japanese espionage was not very good. Tt was not organised soon enoueh and apparently had no long-range plans.

BRITISH CASUALTIES BATAVIA, Nov. 10 General Christison's headquarters announced that 303 British and Indian casualties had been suffered up to Friday ; in the fighting in Sourabaya. The casualties included Ml killed, 180 fussing arid 83 wounded. PLANE DIVES IN SEA NEW ZEALANDER MISSING fßecd ft.3o p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 10 Planes are searching today for a Fleet Air Arm pilot, Sub-Lieutenant B. L. Voysay, of New Zealand, whose machine was seen to dive into the sea Magilligan County, on the Derry coast of Ireland. He Wl »s engaged in training operations. A search carried out by light naval surface craft and a lifeboat was without result MARTIAL LAW LIFTED 8.30 p m.) SOFIA. Nov. 11 Martial law in Bulgaria has been suspended for the first time since "1939.