BUTCH BREAK REPUBLICAN SEICE AFTER TEN-HOUR BATTLE

Chronicle (Levin), 28 July 1947, Page 5

BUTCH BREAK REPUBLICAN SEICE AFTER TEN-HOUR BATTLE

Press Assn .

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Monday, 10.45 a.m. BATAVIA, July 27. Ten hours of continuous fighting raged on both sides of the Brantas River, west of Modjokerto, yesterday, when the Dutch used eleven tanks supporting their infantry in an endeavour to break the Republican seige, says a broadcast over Jogjakarta radio. 'The enemy finally sueceeded in dispersing the Indonesian positions by a barrage from field guns, tanks and aircraft.

A Dutch armoured column hasi moved towards Gempoikerep, three miles west of Modjokerto. . A Republican Army communique quoted Py the radio stated that a lone Dutch flghter for seven hours strafed Malang with dum-dum bullets. It added that fighting continues at Lumudjang after thei Dutch landing at Pasirian, ten miles south-west. The Dutch massacred all in the city wearing > uniform and arrested many Indonesian youths. Plantations Will Be Burnt M. Soeparna, secretary of the Union of Plantation Workers, speaKing on Jogjakarta radio, revealed that plans had been completed to transform 500 plantations throughout West Java into "roaring oceans of fire" if the Republicans were unable to hold the areas. No rubber, quinine, tea or coffee wouid be allowed to fall into the hands of the Dutch. He said that more than a decade would be required to make the plantations productiye once more. New Dutch Landing A Dutch Navy communique tonight reports that landing parties lrom the Netherlands warships Evertsen and Banckert have landed at Tegal, 40 miies east of Cheribon, in oraer to check the destruction of the city even before the arrival of Dutch troops. The occupaiion of the harbour area was completed without delay. Tne communique adds that from tomorrow the harbours of Cheribon, Probolmggo and Banjuwangi will be opened to normal trade. The January reguiations demunuing that every vessel submit to investigation at Batavia, Semarang or aourabaya has been abrogated. Dutch Using Full Strength A Republican communique issued tonignt says that the Dutch are usmg the full strength of their ground forces at tiemarang, supported by tanks, aircraft and warships in the harbour, to halt the Inaonesian advance on the port. The communique claims that the Repubiicans repuised a Dutch attack from Modjokerto on Dwarblandong, and that the Indonesians are advancing on Moajokerto. It states that Dutch warships yesterday sheiled the port of Grisse, west of Sourabaya, wounding five and c.estroying many buildings. The communique maieates that Tegal has been "turned into a sea of fire." In Western Java the Republican forces yesterday reoccupied Tj unahi, six miles west to north-west oi Bandung, and Sidangwangi, three miles north of Tjiijalengk.