PRESSURE ON TIMOR

Evening Star, Issue 24280, 22 August 1942, Page 5

PRESSURE ON TIMOR

ALLIED AIR FORCE STRIKING HARD NO MAJOR LAND FIGHTING

SYDNEY, Aug. 21. The Allied Air Force is maintaining the pressure against Timor, where our troops aro reported to be still resisting the enemy. Medium bombers yesterday struck at Maobisse, which is practically in the centre of the island, and described in to-day’s Allied Headquarters communique as “an area occupied by enemy troops.” Bombs were dropped in the target area, resulting in large explosions, indicating that fuel or ammunition dumps had been hit. In addition to dropping high explosives and incendiaries, Allied planes machine-gunned, buildings and road transport. There has been no combat activity in the Kokoda sector of Papua recently. A headquarters spokesman described the present inactivity as “ merely a lull.” The opposing forces are still approximately of the same strength as last reported. The fighting’ at Kokoda has so far not justified classification as a major engagement.

EAST INDIES OIL WELLS DESTROYED BEFORE INVASION WASHINGTON, Aug. 20. Mr F. Farish, president of the Standard Oil Company, told a Senate committee in Washington that the Standard Oil Company’s wells and refineries in the Netherlands East Indies were destroyed so effectively prior to the Japanese invasion as to be useless to anyone for a long time to come. He said the company destroyed the plant, blasted the pipelines, and poured cement down the wells.

ISOLATED RiOTIHG INDIA NOW CALM (British Official Wireless.) (Reo. noon.) RUGBY, Aug. 21. • This morning’s news from India is that a few attacks on tbe police have been made in the eastern United provinces and the Central provinces, while in Bengal students’ strikes have taken place. Some disturbances also occurred in Madras province and Orissa; otherwise the situation throughout India is calm. The incidents have all been isolated instances of hooliganism. Sir C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar, member for Information and Broadcasting in the Executive Council of the Viceroy of India, has submitted his resignation so that he may be -free to take up the defence of the Indian States against the threat' from the Congress Party. The Viceroy accepted the resignation with regret. The letter of resignation made it clear that Sir Ramaswami is in full sympathy with the action taken by the Government-in the recent disturbances, and that he is resigning because he wishes to be completely free to do what be thinks necessary against mass action which would hamper the Indian war effort.

A.P..P. OFFICER ARRESTED (Rec. 11.40 a.in.) NEW DELHI, August 21. The police in Bombay arrested a prominent A.R.P, officer. Dr K. N. Xarole, and allegedly seized firearms and ammunition from him. The arrest followed investigations into recent dacoity near Bombay, in which revolutionary literature and firearms were seized.

AMERICAN SENATOR'S VIEWS WASHINGTON, August 20. Senator R. B. Reynolds, chairman of the Military Affairs Committee, told the Senate that the United States could demonstrate the sincerity of the Atlantic Charter by calling on Britain to grant India independence. Senator S. Bridges interrupted and said: “Senator Reynolds’s remarks are not in , the interests of unity when ho attempts to dictate to our Ally.” The Democratic leader, Senator A. W. Barkley, asked whether Senator Reynolds spoke for himself or the Military Committee. Senator Reynolds replied; “1 am speaking for myself.”