Evening star., 1942-04-23
Portuguese Feelings
Respected in Allied
Occupation Of Timor
Marked Turning Point
In l0-Yeor Retreot
South From Shanghai
Second OF a Series
BY GEORGE WELLER,
war corrsspendsnt Of The star ard
ChfcsRo Daily News

LHfcbRD DSly NsNh
SOMEWHERE IN AUSTRALIA,
April 23.-T'he Dutch and Australian
occupation of Portuguese T1nor on
/ December IS. preceded by diplomatic
/ talks between Lisbon and London,
marked the turning point on the
| io-year road Of tactical retreat from
Shanghai southwark. The oecupa-
ton itself was carried out with the
greatest possible respect for Portu-
guese feelings and in no way re-
sembled Commando raid, as it was
represented in the Axis press.
About o'clock a shining white
/ interisland Dutch government
steamer slipped quietly into the
Dill roadstead and dropped anchor.
Aboard the steamer were 1t. Col.
Detiger Of the Dutch Army and 1t.
| Col Leggetts of the Australian army.
They were the Allied powers politi-
cal representatives. Although the
| United States was due soon TO be
the chief participant in the South
/ Pacific war. America was not repre-
sented In this first Allied political
mission of struggle.
Both officers wore civilian dress.
Their orders were simply to arrange
with the Portuguese Governor for
the peaceable carrying out OF the
occupation. Gov. Manuel Debreu
Ferreira de Caryalho is q man be-
tween As and so years of age and
speaks English.
Population Unprepared.
1t was intended that negotiations
with the Governor should be con-
cluded before any armed forces
arrived in order that Dilli's small
civil population should not be
alarmed. The Allied agreement
with Premier DR.. Antonio de OIL
veira Salazar in Lisbon already pro-
vided for unresisted occupation II
Timor's position seemed endangered.
But no public announcement had
been made In Dill and the popula-
ton was unprepared.
1t. Col. Detiger and 1t. Col. Leg
gets waited and the Governor
pondered.
After one hour had passed the
officers inquired again what was the
decision. De Carvalho asked an
the Dutch cruiser Soerabaja, which
had left Koepang Capital of Dutch
Timor) at Q o'clock the morning
before, arrived In the harbor. 1t
had been anticipated that the ar
rangements would be completed be-
fore the cruisers arrival, but now
that 1t was on hand, the Allied dele
gates insisted that the Governor,
as the representative of Portuguese
sovereignty, state his landing con-
ditions.
The Governor refused permission
for the Soerabaja to disembark her
$50 Australian and 200 Dutch men
and single battery of three Inch
guns in Dill itself. He stated that
the entire party must land on the
beach at point three miles west
Of the town. There the Australian
Maj. Spence and the Dutch 1t. Col
Nico w. Straten landed their men
while Detiger and Leggets continued
negotiations.
Jap Tanker on Beach.
On Dilli's beach lay the symbolic
wreck Of one Of Japan's latest and
last diplomatic victories over the
Allies-the airline between Palau
(or Pelew) In the Japanese man
dated islands east Of Mindanao and
Portuguese Tfmor. The wreck was
small Japanese aviation tanker,
the Nanyu Maru, around so feet
long and weighing some so tons.
The Japs, not wishing when the
war opened to have large quantities
of fuel within an enemy-held area,
sent plane fuel in the smallest
shipments possible. Such an air.
line as between the fortress island
of Palau and Dill naturally had
not the slightest commercial basis
1t was equivalent to the United
States establishing commercial
airline" between the San Diego
naval base and Tiburon Island In
the Gulf of Lower California
Big Japanese four-engine flying
boats such as harried American
warships of the Asiatic feet escap-
ing from the Philippines first
learned Of the tnter-island routes
among the Moluccas and across
Banda sea on this Japanese -Portu-
guese l,40o-mile espionage patrol.
Whatever material the Japanese
fisherman-naval officers left un-
supplied, navigation between Palau
and Dill gave them.
Apparently expecting far sitter
diplomatic resistance than was Of
fered by the Americans. British, or
Dutch. the japanese left the estab-
hshment Of this line until among
the last of their war preparations.
1t was in active operation about
two months before the war. furnish
ing the most up to date latest in
formation about weather. landmarks
and navigational conditions.
No u. S. Protest.
Although Jap flyers could easily
make a ciyiatior, for stIldv of Dayan