Evening star., 1948-12-26
Dutch DefyU.N.,
Capture Nearly
Whole Of Java
Last Major Republican
City Taken; Troops
Advance in Sumutru
BY the Assoeiofed Press

BATAVIA, Java, Dec. 25.-
Dutch troops today captured
Madden, the last major city of
the 1ndonesian Republic, and
seized almost all of Java despite
a United Nations cease-fire order.
Other Netherlands units had
gained or were within reach of the
major productive area of Sumatra.
In week of fighting, the poorly
equipped Republican army has been
pushed back into wild mountain re-
gions. Split up and without commu-
nications. it is no longer an organ
ized fighting force. Whether the
Republicans have retained enough
strength to mount damaging guer-
rilla attacks against the Dutch re-
mains to be seen.
A Christmas Day communique by
the Netherlands announcing the
capture of Madden told of Dutch
sweeps throughout Java. Madden,
a communications center is IS miles
east of fallen Jogjakarta, the former
Republican capital.
Approach South Coast.
The Dutch also took Kediri, 30
miles southeast of Madden, the
communique said. They now have
advanced 80 miles southwark from
their north coast landing place at
Toeban and are within 80 miles OF
the south coast in that region Of
Central Java.
Other Netherlands units, operat-
ing Immediately north and west of
Madioen. captured Ngawi and Ma
gatan. Mopping up continued around
Magelang and Soerakarta, the bull
letin said.
Mobile Dutch forces captured
Tawangmanggoe, 18 miles southeast
of Soerakarta, and Wonogiri, 81
miles east of Jogjakarta. All of these
sweeps in Central Java gave the
Dutch important highway and rail
links and made the isolation OF
Jogjakarta more nearly complete.
One Dutch fighter plane failed
to return from a flight over Central
Java, the communique said.
The Dutch scored major gains in
Western Java. AMER Lor, 20 miles
west of Serang, was captured, the
communique said. The town had
been a ferrying point for Repub-
licans moving between the isolated
western extremity of Java and Su-
matra.
Netherlands units seized Pandeg-
land, 33 miles southwest of Batavia,
and Rangkasbitoeng. 10 miles fur
ther east, the communique said.
The Dutch have cut clear across
Western Java and taken Bajah on
the south coast.
Mopping Up on Sumatra.
On Sumatra, Dutch troops began
the mopping up of territory occupied
dur;ue the past week. They also
took Sidikalang, northwest of Lake
To5a, and Sibolga on the west coast.
TIE U. N. Good Offices Committee
asked Netherlands and Republican
delegation to provide immediate in
formation on what steps had been
taken to implement the cease-fire
order issued yesterday by the Secu-
ritv Council in Paris. A Dutch
spokesman said the committees let
ter was relayed to The Hague for
action.
DR.. Supomo Of the Republican
delegation said the Security Coun-
ellis order has no meaning for the
Republic since its leaders have been
captured and the government is un-
aole to function"
He said that President Soekarno,
Premier Mohamed Hatta and other
members of the Republican govern
ment will have to be "set up again
in Jogiakarta" before the Republic
can fulfill obligations requested by
the Good Offices Committee.
The Security Councils order de-
manded an immediate termination
of the fighting and release of the
Republican leaders who were cap
tured when Jogjakarta fell in the
first hours of the Dutch attack. The
order does not ask the Dutch to
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