Forces Overrun Strategic Points in Island of Java

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 July 1947, Page 5

Forces Overrun Strategic Points in Island of Java

Received 8.40 p.m. BATAVIA, July 23 Still under a blanket of official silence, Dutch trcops who, on Monday, struck out from a Pcrong on the Sourabaya perimeter and landed at three places on Java's eastern tip are rapidly over-running most of the strategic points on the island’s rich eastern peninsula.

11l central and western Java, where the Dutch forces have attacked south from Samarang and advanced in several directions from an extensive perimeter around Bandung, nothing is ofti eially known from Dutch Army

They are believed to have advanced south from Samarang and along the road leading to Magelang and the Republic's national capital towards Jogjakarta. Fighting has been reported in the vicinity of Anibarawa.

information sources.

In Western Java they are known, from unconfirmed reports, to have reached Sukabumi, where millions of guilders’ worth of estate product were stored by the Republicans. To the north-east of Bandung they are believed to have reached Purwu : karta, Krawang and Magjalengka, thus piercing tiie Republican main line of defence in the west of the island. Sukabumi is believed to have fallen rapidlly because the town had been virtually cut off from communications with the main Republican forces for months. With Krawang, Purwukarta and Madjalengka in their hands the Dutch can now drive north to the coast, taking one of Java’s richest rice-produc-ing areas. Further north-east they are believed to oe continuing their drive on Cheribon, which was bombed yesterday, and Indramaju. west of Cheribon Of the fighting in Sumatra little is known except for a Republican report from the west coast poit of Fading, where the Republican troops are reported to be resisting strongly, although ill-equipped against artillery fire and the Dutch ground entrances. * l Jogja Karta radio stated that Probolinggo, one of east Java's biggest ports, was invaded yesterday by Dutch amphibious troops. Fighting was going on in the town. The radio also saM that Oeiaran, a small town south of Semarang, north central Sumatra, was attacked yesterday. On the west sector of the Semarang front. Republicans had launched counter-attacks. The radio saicl that one Dutch plane wes shot down at Pandaan, near Malang . An Indonesian army communique stated one Dutch plane was shot down during an air raid on Boedang, western Java. Dutch forces yesterday drove to Krawang. about 60 miles east of Batavia. In centraf Java, a tattle occurred at Slatiga, about 50 miles south of Semarang, where the Dutch are using armoured cars. Dutch aircraft yesterday bombed Maospati airfield. An advance about which there is itill official silence, was believed to have started from the Sourabaya perimeter, with the strategic rail and road junctions of Jertosong and Bangil as objectives. Landings were also made at Banjuwangi, on the east coast, and at Pasir Patch, on the north coast, not far from the extreme north-eastern lip of Java, near Situbondo. AIR ATTACKS CONTINUE. The Dutch are continuing their air attacks, which are described as ‘ preventive’’ to support their ground operations. The tally ol Indonesian planes destroyed on tne ground is still ten, wmle the Republicans claim one certain Dutch plane destroyed and another seen to crash in Dutch held territory. Unconfirmed i eports say another has been shot down in Sumatra.

Latest reports from East Java say that Dutch Marines who landed at Kraksaan have reacned Piobolinggo. Observers consider they may soon link up with the drive from Forong on Bangil and Pandakan. There aie no repot Is uf the progress of the Dutch drive inland from Banjuwangi that yesterday reached the mountain pass at Kalibaroe. but observers say they are likely to continue their advance along the road leading to Sourabaya, linking up with the Pasar Putih and Kraksaan invasions.

There are no confirmed reports of tne lighting around the old trouble spot, Modjokero, but unconfirmed reports say they have reached the railway junction of Kertoson.

Reed. 11 pun. Batavia, July- 23. A Dutch communique says tnat Dutch troops reached Tjilamaja, 65 miles east uf Batavia, lire raillway between Euitenzorg and Tjiandjocr is under Netherlands control. Water power stations at Kratjak and Oebrock, supplying Batavia with electricity, have been occupied. In Sukabumi fires have been observed. The post office "as burnt down. Most damage none was to the proper.y of Chinese inhabitants. Troops from Bandung have advanced north and north-cast and occupied Tandjungsaiiand Seglaherang. Around Samarang Dutch troops dur mg the last two days occupied Onegaran, Toentang and its water-power station, and Ambarawa and Salatiga. After landings at Banjuwangi and Pasir Putih, the chief towns east of a line from Probolinggo to Lumadjang were occupied. The towns include Probolinggo Lumadjang. Pasirian, Besuki, Stiubondo, Bondowoso, Bjember and Bandjuwangi. Dutch troops from Sourabaya advanced west and reached Patji, Traw'is, Tretes, Pandakan and Bangil. In Sumatra Medan, in the area around the city of Bindjai, and Arnhemia ». ere occupied. Padang and the entire plain around the town were occupied. In the Palembang area Netherlands troops penetrated moic than 75 miles, occupying among other places Prabummli.

The communique adds: Republican resistance has been only sporadically encountered, sg that in general, actions progressed very satisfactorily. There is little sign of confusion. The dopping of pamphlets had a calming effect on the population. The scorched earth policy manifested itself mainly in the robbing of the more well -to- dG inhabitants, ■‘specially Chinese, and the burning down of properties.