Following Operation Kraai in 1948, in which Dutch forces conquered the republican capital at Yogyakarta and captured much of the Sukarno government, Soeman was made commander of the guerrilla forces in Riau.
Setelah Operasi Kraai pada 1948, ketika pasukan Belanda menduduki ibukota republik di Yogyakarta dan menangkap sebagian besar anggota pemerintahan Sukarno, Soeman menjadi komandan pasukan gerilya di Riau.