DUTCH ADVANCING IN ALL SECTORS

Chronicle (Levin), 26 July 1947, Page 5

DUTCH ADVANCING IN ALL SECTORS

Eeceived Saturday, 1 a.m. BATAVIA, July 25. Dutch troops have now occupied or held positions in 16 of Java's 22 prewar residencies, according to the latest reports of advances given in today's Dutch Army communique. Most of the important gains are in West Java where the fall of Purwakarta on the railway leading to Central Java and where the Eepublieans were reporfced to have had their divisionai neadquarters is confirmed. Advancing southeast of the prewar summer capital Bandung along the railway toward Tasikmalaya in the heart of some of Java's most fertile plantation country, the Dutch have taken Thitjalengka, Pasar Bungur and Pegadan Baroe. A surprise atback on Pasaruan (East Java) enahled the Dutch to link up with Marines who landed at the eastern tip of Java with a drive down from Poroug at the end of the Sourabaya front. The occupation of Pamanukan on the nortli coast between Batavia and Cheribon means that the Dutch forces have completed their drive north from Subang. The freehold title of all territory in this region is owned "by the Anglo-Dutch Plantation company with iieauquarters in London and Amsterdam. The firm is the biggest freehold owner of plantation land in Java. Before the war it used Pamanukan for ihe export of its products, including tea, rubber, sisal. coifee and teak. The communique reports that Cheribon was taken by surprise on Wednesday as the Eepublieans did not expect the port to be attacked from the land. In Salatiga, in Central Java, the Chinese quarter suffered heavily from arson and plundering. Some Dutch Burasians were rescued. In Sumatra armed Eepublican groups in Tuesday and Wednesday made two rttacks on Bindpai near Medan which aad just been occupied hy Netherlands iroops. There were sdhie attacks on Dutch. posts and patrols east- of the , :ity but cleafing actions were now being carried out. A large : quantity 6f arnis has been confiscated near Padang on Sumatra 's west coast while the Dutch advance from Palembang has reached Baturadja 110 miles southwest of the city. The communique adds: "The population 's attitude to the Netherlands troops could hardly be bettered. Here and there they show themselves a iittle uncertain, but elsewhere, for instance in Cheribon and in various placos in West Java and East Java, our troops have been greeted with enthusiasm. From the military standpomt there is hardly any resisfa-nce worth the name."