ARSON CAMPAIGN IN BANDOENG

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23376, 6 December 1945, Page 5

ARSON CAMPAIGN IN BANDOENG

Extremists Defiant (11.50 p.m.) BATAVIA. Dec. 5. The stiuation in Bandoeng has not improved, says Reuter’s cc resondent. The extremists are carrying ont an arson campaign in the northern sectors, instead of withdrawing in compliance with last week’s British ultimatum. Gurkhas with tanks and artillery attacked a building to which the Indonesians set fire before withdrawing. Fighting has again broken out in Ambarawa. A later message stated that a truce had been called in Bandoeng. Crimes by Extremists Murder, torture, starvation, beating, eye-gouging and th amputation of limbs are among the atrocities committed by Indonesian extremists against Indian prisoners after landing in Sourabaya, states a report received by Sir Philip Christison from the commander of the 49th Indian Infantry 7 Brigade. The report added that the limbs of one captured officer were dismembered after his murder and flung from one person to another. Describing the sequence of events, the report stated that all went well .at first, and agreement was made with Dr Moestopo and other moderates. There seemed every prospect of removing the Japanese and evacuating the women and chiludren. However, Dr Moestopo secretly left Sourabaya on October 27. and next day a carefully planned attack, supported by tanks and armoured cars, was launched against all British forces by 20.000 Japanese-trained and armed regular Indonesian troops and by an uncontrolled mob of 120.000 armed with Japanese rifles, swords, poisoned spears, clubs and daggers.

Fourteen Persons Perish Another message says that Dakotas to-day began a shuttle service between Batavia and Bandoeng, flying from Mahrattas to Bandoeng where the situation has deteriorated. Extremists at Bandoeng yesterday locked 14 persons in a house and set fire to it with petrol. All are reported to have been incinerated. The Dutch News Agency reports that British reinforcements and mortars repelled Extremists’ attacks against British headquarters at Bandoeng. British warships again shelled Indonesian concentrations at Semerang. The Allied controlled Bandoeng radio stated that British and Indian casualties in Java to December 2 totalled 845. comprising 21 British and 110 Indians killed. 57 British and 471 Indians wounded, seven British and 179 Indians missing. In an interview to-day. Mr Satan Sjahrir, Premier of the Indonesian Republican Government, said that the Indonesians would not accept Dominion status. He added: “We do not mean bv inedependence living alone Our meaning of independence certainly recognises the importance of having ties, especially with countries economically and geographically close to us.” Mr Sjahrir said he accepted the official ' statement of British role in Java. “We do not think that the British have done anything to show that they are systematically working in the direction of restoring Dutch Sovereignty.”