ACTIVE CAMPAIGN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1942, Page 3

ACTIVE CAMPAIGN

CARRIED ON BY GUERILLAS IN DUTCH EAST INDIES. OFFICER VISITS AUSTRALIA TO REPORT. (Special Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 22. An officer of the regular. Dutch army who is leader of the guerilla forces still fighting the Japanese in the Netherlands East Indies, made a secret visit to Australia to report. He has now returned to his guerilla troops. His visit has been revealed by the Dutch authorities who state that the officer told a story of ceaseless underground warfare. The guerillas had ample supplies and methods of replenishing them. Their officer is said to have come from one of the smaller islands in the group. The Japanese landed with a force at least 10 times that of the defenders, who comprised both Dutch and Indonesian troops. The defenders then made a hazardous retreat to planned positions in the hinterland. A march through dense jungle and along narrow mountain tracks took eight days and nights—-a nightmare period when the men had little food or rest and no medicines. The Japanese forces macle early efforts to penetrate inland, the Dutch officer said, but after having been repulsed with considerable losses they gave up bush fighting. Their latex activities have consisted of writing naive letters to the guerilla leader, .demanding the surrender of his forces. They have also supplied guns to natives and local Chinese, offering a reward of £25 for each guerilla member killed. However, these bandits were mostly shot before they could do much harm. The guerillas made frequent devastating sorties against Japanese posts and kept the invaders in a highly apprehensive state. By their activities, the Japanese were confined to the main, roads and more settled areas. In addition to inflicting losses, the guerillas gathered much useful information about the Japanese forces and carried on effective counter-propaganda work among the natives. Apart from the proceeds of raids, the guerillas lived on rice, corned beef and occasional fresh meat. However, their spirits were high and their determination to continue the struggle was unyielding.