Evening star., 1945-11-11
British KiI|inq
OF Thousands
In nJavaDeniied
ShelIins Of .Soerobojo
Prevents Removed of
Dead, Indonesions Soy
BY the Associated Press.

siaSifSStdihS ~
BY the Associated Press.
BATAVIA, Nov. 11.-Head-
quarters of 1t. Gen. Sir Philip
Christison, Allied commander in
the Dutch East Indies, today de-
MED Indonesian reports that
thousands of Indonesian sol
diers and civilians" had been
killed at Soerabaja by "contin-
ued British attacks"
The British statement said all tar
gets bombed and strafed in support
OF the 5th Indian Division advance
into the great Java naval base had
been "reconnoitered and pinpointed.'
Indonesian assertions that the ali
attack had been indiscriminate were
termed absolutely untrue"
The headquarters announcement
said operations to clear Soerabaja OF
extremists were continuing but
further attacks had not been neces-
sary.
Hit known Rebel Areas.
In the earlier aerial assault every
target hit was a known center of
extremist activity" the statement
declared.
British casualties during the first
morning of fighting yesterday were
one killed and four wounded, the
announcement said.
Off1cials of the unrecognized Indo-
nesian republic had released a re-
port which said that bodies are
piling up in all Soerabaja and can
not be removed because of contin-
uous British shelling from the sea" "
Other Indonesian sources had said
that continued British attacks from
the air, sea and land" had "devas-
tated Soerabaja and the vicinity
and killed thousands of Indonesian
soldiers and civilians"
The British announcement re-
ferred only to air attacks.
Action Hasn't Spread.
The British command also OBJ
served there had been mo strong
reaction" in other sections of Java
to the fighting at Soerabaja and that
reception of the news "by Indo-
nesians everywhere had been almost
phlegmatic"
The report also said Indonesians
at Jogjakarta even had invited
Brigadier Bethel, British commander
at Samarang, to broadcast there last
night.
Bethel, in his radio speech from
the ancient Java capital, stressed
the need for bringing all turnult to
an end and said the British action
was entirely directed toward doing
So"
Indonesian sources said the extent
of the British advance into Soera-
baja was not clear in their reports.
Ask Chinese Aid.
The clandestine Soerabaja Indo-
nesian radio station continued on
the air and broadcast an appeal by a
Chinese girl for the government of
China to help the Indonesians. The
station said many civilians had been
killed in Pasar Toeri, the main mar
ket near the Soerabaja railroad
station.
There were unoficial reports that
British artillery brigadier had been
killed in the crash of a Mosquito
bomber as it took off to observe re-
suits Of artillery shelling.
The Soerabaja radio said the Indo-
nesian order to return British fire
and counterattack was given at 9:05
am. yesterday after the British air
attack and naval shelling. The
broadcast reported an Indonesian
counterattack was planned during
the night.
UItimatum Rejected.
The British order to blast away at
the city of 100000 inhabitants came
after Indonesians rejected an ulti-
matum to surrender their weapons.
The Indonesians charged British
troops were moving into the city,
using the common people as a
shield" and were employing bombs,
tanks and heavy guns in deliber-
ate, indiscriminate attack on the
people"
"Indonesians, their spirit afiame,
fight on" the report added.
An Indonesian spokesman said
civilians were fleeing the city, once
large Dutch naval base, and had
set fire to compounds surrounding
the British perimeter in carrying
out scorched-earth withdrawal.
Advices from Jogjakarta, where
100000 armed Indonesians are re-
ported concentrated, declared hot
headed Indonesian youths were al
ready marching toward Soerabaja
shouting Slight for Freedom!"
Indonesian President" Soekarno
had gone to Jogjakarta to address
a youth rally, which broke up when
(See INDONESIA Page A-71