BRITISH HAVE OPENED FIRE ON SOURABAYA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 267, 12 November 1945, Page 5

BRITISH HAVE OPENED FIRE ON SOURABAYA

INDONESIANS DO NOT HAND OVER THEIR ARMS CITY BEING SLOWLY CLEARED Recd. 1 1 p.m. Batavia, Nov. 1 I. The situation in Sourabaya is now reported to be quieter, following shelling by British warships and artillery, which resulted because of the Indonesians’ refusal to obey the order of the British commander, Major-General Mansergh, that all arms be surrendered and leaders given up. Indonesian reports state that Sourabaya and its vicinity have been devastated and thousands of Indonesian soldiers and civilians killed by continued British attacks from air, sea and land. Sourabaya came under shell fire at six a.m. yesterday, wheu Major-General Mansergh’s ultimatum expired. This was reported by the Indonesian Republic Foreign Office spokesman, who said many Indonesians were wounded by shell fire, which increased in intensity at 8 a.m. Dr. Soebardjo stated that British warships joined the artillery in shelling the city and many Indonesians were killed. The manager of the telephone exchange in Sourabaya informed him that Indonesian families were evacuating the city. The telephone exchange was being abandoned. The people appeared to have decided to carry out a scorched earth policy in their flight. Dr. Soebardjo stated that the Indonesians, up to 10 a.m.. had not returned the British fire. A report of the action was telephoned to Dr. Sockarno, who was attending a youth rally at Jogjakart.

Dr. Soebardjo yesterday sent a letter to Lieutenant-General Christison urging that the British ultimatum should not be enforced. The letter warned that measures for the immediate disarmament of “the irresponsible part of the population would inevitably lead to bloodshed and still greater disorders." He declared 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 irresponsibles should possess arms, which, in the long run, might endanger the State itself. He concluded:

“I beg you to use a method least provoking and most appropriate to gain control of the situation." • A British spokesman stated that troops of the sth. Indian Division early to-day began slowly to clear Sourabaya against light sniping and light machine-gun fire. Resistance increased by the middle of the morning. Major-General Mansergh ordered the bombing and shelling of Sourabaya because the increasing resistance inflicted casualties on the advancing Indian Division. Four Thunderbolts and one Mosquito operated from the Sourabaya airfield and made bombing and strafing attacks on the post office and Government buildings in Sourabaya. The Mosquito was damaged, but landed safely.

The spokesman stated that MajorGeneral Mansergh, before expiration of the ultimatum, sent a message to Dr. Soerio, Indonesian “governor” of Sourabaya, specifying that tanks, armoured cars, spears, blowpipes and poisoned arrows must be surrendered along with other arms. The British spokesman stated that the Indonesians were offering growing resistance to the nationalists. He said a large number of native youths assembled in Jogjakarta, 175 miles south-westward of Sourabaya, and decided to proceed to Sourabaya to reinforce their countrymen. The Netherlands news agency stated that brief, fierce fighting broke out in the Kramat area, where mortars had to be used. There also was firing in the centre of the city behind the Hotel des Indes. He added that British warships bombarded the port area of Sourabaya. the nost office, law courts .-.nd Government buildings, for flvn mirut-s before the air attack. A British Command statement said British troops still had to collect 20,000 Japanese soldiers and sailors In Sourabaya. It added that the arms which the British demanded from the Indonesians originally belong to the Japanese.