FRESH DISORDERS IN BATAVIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23323, 5 October 1945, Page 5

FRESH DISORDERS IN BATAVIA

Japanese And National Troops Clash (12.20 a.m.) BATAVIA, October 4. It is officially announced that Dr. Soekarno’s Indonesian Nationalists seized control of Bandoeng and Sourabaya from the Japanese. Dr. Hubertus van Mook (Lieu-tenant-Governor of the Netherlands East Indies) arrived at Batavia and conferred for three hours with Sir Philip Christison (British Commander in Java). The Netherlands Information Service issued a statement that no consultations were .possible with Dr. Soekarno (President of the Indonesian Republic). The Dutch Government persisted in the absolute refusal to treat with persons appointed by the Japanese and appealed to ail Indonesians to continue in common council for a new status of the Empire. The implications of the internal ferment caused by the transfer of authority and the Indonesians’ claims to independence cannot be grasped in Batavia Itself, because the shops are open and Japanese currency is still being used. Says Reuter’s correspondent at Batavia. Trams and walls bear the slogans: “Freedom from Dutch Colonist tion." The correspondent adds that the Japanese in Batavia to-day are rhoving into luxury internment camps outside the city, which they have chosen for themselves. Fifty persons were killed and 150 wounded in a clash between Japanese troops and Indonesian Nationalists in the Sourabaya area. Fresh disorders broke out in Batavia last night, but the city is now quieter than it has been for some time. A communique issued by the Allied Command admits “slight” disturbances in which the commanding officer of the Seaforth Battalion was mobbed, stoned and fired on before the crowd realised he was British. Indonesians attempting to gain control of Sourabaya from the Japanese surrounded Kempeltai headquarters and shooting began. There is no confirmation of the report of 150 casualties. The Japanese regained control. A Royal Air Force wing commander, seeing a large crowd of Indonesians at the aerodrome, decided it was not safe to land and returned to Batavia.