UNSETTLED JAVA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 278, 24 November 1945, Page 5

UNSETTLED JAVA

‘ MORE TROUBLE OCCURS ! STORM CENTRE BANDOENG Recd. 11.30 p.m. Batavia, Nov. 23. The storm centre in unsettled Java is now the centrally situated town of Bandoeng, 75 miles south-east of Batavia, where serious outbreaks of unrest are reported. Indonesian extremists are carrying out a policy of looting, kidnapping and intimidation against the existing administration, the R.A.P.W.I. Elsewhere in Java the situation is reported to be calm, but still very tense. Recd. 6 p.m. London. Nov. 23. “The Times” Batavia correspondent rays that if the British are going to perform their most essential task, namely, rescuing Dutch internees, they need twice the present number of troops If also, thev are going to disarm the Indonesians and put the Dutch back in power, they will need many more. The British now are so closely identified with the Dutch in the eyes of the Indonesians that their mediating value is low—they are too involved. The next sten obviously is 10 invite the good offices of some other Power not already involved, whose arbitration would he acceptable to both sides, and America is the obvious choice. Sneedy action is needed i n the situation, which is deteriorating now not daily but hourly. The Associated Press’ Batavia correspondent says that Japanese troops, under British command, battled with Indonesians in the eastern suburbs of Semarang, while attempts to negotiate neace between Dutch and Indonesian troops failed. A British spokesman said the Japanese were good troops, who fought well. Recd. 11.35 p.m. Batavia, Nov. 23.

“Another detachment of Gurhkas reached the threatened R.A.P.W.I. camp at Amabrawa after fighting Its way against strong opposition from Megalang, while a British column, with tank and artillery support from Semarang, met slight opposition,” says a British communique. Robberies, kidnapping and looting continued ?n Bandoeng. Only one waggon of a 20-waggon supply train from Batavia arrived at Bandoeng. The fate of the remaining waggons and Gurkha escort is not known. “Resistance at Sowrabaya has decreased.”