Evening star., 1945-11-10
British Bomb,
Shell Soerabaja;
Troops Move In
lndonesiun Families
Evucuotine as Attack
Follows UItimutum
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BATAVIA, Java, Nov. TO-
British Indian troops, engaging
in full-scale warfare to disarm
resisting Indonesian national
lists, opened an attack on Soera-
baja today. British shells and
bombs raked the naval base, of
500, 900 population.
Indonesians were evacuating their
families from the city.
Indonesian spokesmen said British
naval guns as we'll as land artillery
opened fire at 6 am. (6 pm, Friday
E. s. T) in preparation for the at
tack by the full 5th Indian Infantry
Division.
British Mosquito bombers and
Thunderbolt fighters strafed and
bombed the post Office and govern
ment buildings in Soerabaja and one
Mosquito was forced down when
damaged.
The Nationalists said large num-
bers of native youths assembled in
Jogjakarta, ITS miles to the south
west, had decided to proceed to
Soerabaja to reinforce their coun-
tryn1en and were rallying to the cry
fight for freedom"
Foreign Minister Soebardio OF
the unrecognized "Indonesian re-
public" said the telephone manager
at Soerabaja had reported that the
natives there apparently had de-
clded to carry out a "scorched-
earth" policy in their flight. This
account would indicate that the
natives had little hope of standing
and fighting in the city.
Growing Resistance Reported.
A British spokesman said the
natives were putting up growing
resistance. The Nationalists re-
ported that many Indonesians were
killed or wounded, and denied re-
sistance was being offered.
At stake in the developing fight
ing is control of the rich Neither
lands Indies with a population of
IL ,000, 900 Indonesians. The native
Nationalist are seeking freedom
from Dutch Colonial control.
1t. Gen. Sir Philip Christison,
Allied commander in the islands,
announced the opening of the Brit
ish attack. The British troops
jumped of from positions which
they held around the city in the
face of light sniping and machine
gun fire.
Soebardjo said the telephone ex-
change had been abandoned. The
telephone building probably was
vacated by the Nationalists after the
strafing and bombing attack by
British planes. The British report
said shelling was directed against
'1ndonesian strong points"
Governor Given Full Authority.
The British did not specify the
extent of the Soerabaja area &C.
cupied during the days "slow ad-
vance" but Indonesian sources said
the British had moved through two
suburbs.
Soebardjo said the Nationalist
cabinet had given DR.. Soerio, Indo.
nesian Republican Governor of Soc.
rabaja, full authority for decision.
at the naval base since he wa.
better able to judge the local situa.
tion ahd the feeling of the natives
A British command statement
said British troops still had t.
collect 10000 japanese soldiers anc
sailors in the Soerabaja area.
The statement also said the arm.
which the British demanded thai
the natives surrender original,
were the arms of these 10000 Japa.
nese, commanded by Admiral Mards
and Gen. Iwabu. The British de.
clared that they were carrying out 9
United Nations mandate to rescue
war prisoners and internees anc
collect and remove defeated Jana.
neSe.
Communications Disrupted.
British authorities explained thai
disrupted commu~ ications DELAYED
announcement of the attack.
An official announcement sale
Maj. Gen. E. C. Mansergh ordered
the shelling and air assault afte,
mounting Indonesian resistance in.
f1icted casualties on the Indians.
The statement pointed out thai
Gen. Mansergh had warned in ad.
vance that he would enforce his
ultimatum that the Indonesians sur.
render all their arms by 6 am. today
with all the sea, land and air forces
at my disposal"
"As casualties were being suffered
by our troops, Mansergh decided
stronger action was necessary" and
called on Raj bombing planes based
(See INDONESIA. Page A-20