CASUALTIES NOT HEAVY

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

CASUALTIES NOT HEAVY

BRITISH REPORTS TWO-THIRDS OF CITY OCCUPIED Recd. 11.40 p.m. Batavia, Nov. 11. British and Indian forces have occupied nearly two-thirds of Soura* baya, according to Dutch sources. Allied Headquarters, denying that the air strikes yesterday were indiscriminate. state that all the targets were well-known extremist strongpoints. Major-General Mansergh gave every’ opportunity for the Nationalists to comply with measures necessary for the city’s safety, but they appeared determined to fight. Allied headquarters stated that there have not been any strong reactions elsewhere in Java to the news from Sourabaya. Indonesian reaction is almost phlegmatic. Indonesians at Jogjakarta invited Brigadier Beth well, British commander at Semarang, to broadcast over the Jogjakarta radio last evening. Indonesian Republican sources declared that the British bombing and shelling went on until late last evening and claimed the bodies of Indonesians and Dutch were piling up in the streets and evacniees crowding the roads from the city. Lieutenant - General Christison’s headquarters denied reports that thousands of Indonesian soldiers and civilians were killed in Sourabaya. The British casualties on the first morning of the assault were one killed and four wounded.