CIVIL WAR NEAR IN JAVA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 272, 17 November 1945, Page 5

CIVIL WAR NEAR IN JAVA

HINDRANCE TO THE BRITISH

NATIONALISTS APPARENTLY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER EXTREMISTS Reed. 8 p.m. London, Nov. 16. The mounting prospects of civil war in Java are adding to the difficulties of the British forces engaged in clearing Sourabaya, says the “Daily Mail’s” Batavia correspondent. He adds that dissensions between Indonesian factions came to a head on Wednesday with riots around the marshalling yard, and there is every evidence that the so-called Indonesian Republic exercises no control whatever over the extremists.

A South-east Asia Command spokesman said the men of the sth Indian Division, who fought so long against the Japanese, recognise the familiar touchy in almost every detail of the extremist tactics.

A meeting which was to have taken place last night between the Indonesian Nationalist; and Dr. van Mook (Dutch Lieutenant-Governor) at Lieutenant-General Christison's house, was cancelled at the last moment, says the “Daily Telegraph” Batavia correspondent. He adds that the Dutch authorities stated they were not at liberty to disclo e the reason whv the meeling was conceited. British headquarters announced that a full statement would be made to-day. It is believed the British decided to cancel the meeting on the grounds that four Indonesian representatives were not acceptable to Dr. van Mook.

Reed. 6 p.m. Batavia, Nov. 15 Fighting in Sourabaya has reached full intensity, and British planes, tanks and artillery blasted anew today at 15,000 Indonesians resisting .fiubbornly in the port. Mosquitoes strafed four Indonesian machine gun posts and put al] four out of action.

Six shells, seemingly from a Japanese 75-millimetre gun, scored near misses 20 yards from the British meiAT.itman. Empire Canning, in Port Sourabaya. It is officially staled that Allied casualties in Sourabaya are slight. Four British and two Indian officers and 169 other ranks are missing. A 23rd Indian Division report accuses Indonesians of atrocities during the fimt major outbreaks, including the mutilation of a British officer by cutting off his legs and arms. The Netherlands agency reports that only two of 22 disarmed Japanese travelling in a lorry escaped an ambush set by Indonesians at Buitenzorg. The British staff to-day con.lilted with Indonesian Cabinet members a. Batavia on the provision of medical treatment and supplies for Indonesian women and children refugees in the area o£ Sourabaya held by the British. The Indonesian Health Minister, who is one of the retiring members, agreed “in the interests of humanity” to instruct the Indonesian waterworks staff in Sourabaya to restore the water supply.