BRITISH WITHDRAWAL FROM DUTCH ISLANDS

Chronicle (Levin), 26 October 1946, Page 5

BRITISH WITHDRAWAL FROM DUTCH ISLANDS

lieceived Friilav, 7 p.m. LOXDOX, Oct. 25. The linal pluvse of the British witliilrawal from the Xetherlands East ludies began on October 24 when Dutch troojis took over without iuci dent, the garrisoning of Buiten/.org from troops of the 23rd Lndian Divi sion. The Times' Batavia correspondenl says the transfer oceurred -witli tlie Tui . knowledge and eonsent of Sjahrir's Oabinet who were notilied severn! weeks ago of the dates of the Britisl witlnlrawals from Java and iSumatra aud were giveu full details of the arrival of Dutch garrisous. The Dutch uow liave posts all along the Batavia Bandoeng road where teu months ago British convoys were often bailly shot up. Todav it is possible to drive to Bandoeng without escort. The evaeuation of Buitenzorg leaves | British troops only at Batavia, Medan ^ and ralembang. The withdrawal from | Batavia will hardly be notieed as the I Dutch forces are already ell'eetivelv conlrolling the city and the extensive so-called pacilied zone round it. The Dutch mav hnve trouble in the Suniat rau bridgeheads unless the Jndonesian military leaders deeide to implemeut the truee which Sjahrir's Fabinel agreed to a fortnight ago. There has i not yet been a full meeting of the truee commi.ssion and tlie lndonesian leaders elearly feel they have little to gain by giving the eease fire order.