OBJECTIVES GAINED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26520, 23 July 1947, Page 5

OBJECTIVES GAINED

EARLY DUTCH SUCCESSES POPULATION REMAINS CALM Rec. 1.15 a.m. BATAVIA, July 22. A Dutch communique issued this afternoon says that all objectives for the first 24 hours were reached at most points and even advanced much farther. In the interests of the action begun yesterday no details can yet be published. The Dutch losses have been limited, part of them being caused by land mines and booby traps laid along or near the demarcation lines. The population remains quiet and continues its work. Demolitions and arson are reported in only a few places. Measures had to be taken to safeguard large towns in Sumatra, but everywhere was completely calm and normal, just as in large towns under Netherlands control in Java. . _ . . The communique reports that Dutch Kittyhawk and Mustang fighters carried out operations in several parts of Java, Republican airfields being particular objects of attack. So far 10 Republican planes are reported to have been destroyed. A Republican communique says fighting started at Tamboen and Tjibarusa, a few miles across the east sector of the Batavia perimeter, yesterday It adds that the Dutch launched an attack southwards on the Samarang front. There are indications from the Republican com • munique and from the Jogjakarta radio that the Dutch' have made rapid progress since they landed at Banjuwangi. They report that two tanks and five trucks arrived at Kalibaroe on a mountain pass of the road to Sourabaya, 30 kilometers inland. Ragodjampi, south-west of Banjuwangi was attacked with mortars, machine guns, and rifles. The Dutch police searching a Republican house not far from the Economic Affairs Ministry, controlled by Dr Gani in Batavia, found 1,000,000 Siamese 20-ticul notes.