Batavia, september 29:
For Public Relations Service Singapore please pass PR Alfsea from mani
army observer with 23rd Indian divsion begins indian and british troops
of the 23 indian division who are to occupy java landed at tandjoeg priok
today after a voyage of over nine hundred miles in landing crafts stop
the first occupation troops to arrive the seaforth highlanders comma
first patiala infantry and sixteenth punjab regiment of the first indian infantry brigade stop the voyage was
uneventful and the troops enjoyed it immensely particularly the seaforths
who did not miss the customary quote during unquote ceremony while
crossing the equator stop to indian troops java brings back memories
of indian colonisation of the country in the early centuries
during the quote pallava unquote comma quote chola
unquote and quote gupta unquote period of indian history stop though
not fully conversant the indian quote jawan unquote has a vague idea
of this ancient connection and is extremely anxious to renew and strengthen
this centuries old bond of friendship stop these views were expressed to
me while on board by a soldier from punjab stop compared with the
enthusiastic reception we had in burma and singapore comma local
reaction has been a little lukewarm owing to strong nationalist feelings
among the indonesians stop in singapore we were received at the docks
by cheering crowds who hung festoons all along our way but here in
batavia only children waved and cheered at us stop ends
Batavia, september 29:
For Public Relations Service Singapore please pass PR Alfsea from mani
army observer with 23rd Indian divsion begins indian and british troops
of the 23 indian division who are to occupy java landed at tandjoeg prick
today after a voyage of over nine hundred miles in landing crafts stop
the first occupation troops to arrive the seaforth highlanders comma
first patiala infantry and sixteenth punjab regiment stop the voyage was
uneventful and the troops enjoyed it immensely particularly the seaforths
who did not miss the customary quote ducking unquote ceremony while
crossing the equator stop to indian troops java brings back the memories
of indian colonisation in the country in the early centuries of its
occupation by the quote pallava unquote comma quote cholas
unquote and the quote gupta unquote periods of indian history stop though
not fully conversant the indian quote jawan unquote has a vague idea
of this ancient connection and extremely anxious to renew and strengthen
this centuries old bond of friendship stop these views were expressed to
me while on board by a sikh soldier from stop compared with the
enthusiastic reception we had in burma and singapore comma local
reaction has been a little lukewarm owing to strong nationalist feelings
among the indonesians stop in singapore we were received at the docks
by cheering crowds who hung festoons all along our way but here in
batavia only children waved and cheered at us stop ends
Feature
for Jawan
Mani: Army Observer
Batavia:--- Inspite of a few unhappy clashes with armed mobs, Indian
troops are quite friendly with the local population. They move freely
with the Dutch, Eurasian, Indian and Indonesians whom they meet and are
generally happy.
Their main work consists in patrolling, escorting European
and Eurasian internees and refugees and guarding hospitals, vital
points and internment camps. In addition to
these, whenever the peace of the city is disturbed or looting occurences
are reported, their detachments are rushed to maintain law and
order.
But their routine activities continue to
be the same. They have their morning "P.T." and parades and in the
evenings they either play volley-ball or hockey. As more sports goods
are available, the now empty playing-fields in Batavia will witness
the nimble footed Indians play with great joy their national game of
hockey.
All of them have comfortable lodgings. They have clean
baths and electric lights out the whole area had to be cleaned
thoroughly before they could use any of the buildings. Their recreation
rooms have been installed and what really makes them most happy are
the mails from home which have commenced to arrive regularly.
-------
Note for Editor: At the discretion of the DDPR, this may be sent
to PR Alfsea and India since I have not filed any copies for them.
For PR alfsea from mani army observer batavia october elven begins
after an armed indonesian mob attacked and killed a
british officer and an indian viceroys commissioned officer of a
punjab battalion indian troops opened fire this afternoon on the
locals and have rounded up about forty indonesians armed with
rifles and dahs stop six wounded indonesians were brought in for
medical attention in our aid post stop as far as know no local was
killed stop on hearing shots which were being fired at a passing
truck in the cornelis area the british captain with a platoon of
punjabis want to investigate when he went forward with one section
stop on nearing a road junction he left
the section and accompanied by his jemedar moved east towards the
railway stop near the railway they were
at by small arms and their bodies were
subsequently mutilated with knives stop immediately the section and
more troops rushed in and opened fire when six indonesians were
wounded and were brought into our first aid post stop the whole
area which is a thickly built up one with innumerable lanes was
combed before sunset and about forty indonesians have been arrested
some of them armed with arms rifles and dahs stop the strength of
the armed indonesian mob has not so far been estimated stop ends
For PR alfsea from mani army observer begins batavia
october sixth stop while on their way in landing crafts
from malaya to java a punjabi soldier fell overboard in
the lonely and rough south china sea but was saved by the
vigilance of a patiala officer stop as the convoy entered
the heaving waters most of the troops were lying seasick
in their hammocks but one punjabi soldier rather fond
of fresh air was on open deck sitting on a bench and
dreaming about the new country he was to visit stop it
was near midnight when a high roaring wave rocked the
ship wide and flung him and his wooden bench into the
sea stop he shouted and cried but his ship passed him by
without his fall
being seen or his cries being heard stop at the approach
of the next ship he shouted again and major kuldeep singh
first patiala infantry sleeping on the watch deck heard
the cry and told the skipper to stop the vessel but the
latter thought the cry was from the vessel
behind where troops were having a gala party singing and
shouting stop the major insisted on the vessel being
stopped and on flashing the searchlight around they
found the punjabi soldier floating on his bench stop
the vessel veered close to him and ropes were thrown to
him with which he climbed on board stop when he heard the
story of his rescue he went and thanked the major profu-profusely
stop among other duties in batavia the
patialas are guarding the indian ex prisoners camp
thirtyeight of whom left yesterday by air for
singapore stop hundred are leaving today and
remaining fifty will be reaching singapore in the next
few days
For PR alfsea from mani army observer begins batavia october fifth
eight jap bodies victims of a murder in the manggaria
wireless station four days ago were exhumed this evening stop
jap fatigue party under directions from a royal signals officer
dug only four feet before they located a body stop two bodies in
a fairly decomposed state which eye examined xxxx sword wounds on
the back of the neck stop the area for hundred of yards around
is permeated with the small of dead stop the wall of
a small outhouse facing the entrance to the place bears bullet
marks and a few of the bullets picked from the ground below
are quite rusted stop according to an indonesian from the adjoining
village mentargpualau the locals stopped a jap truck
whose inmates instead of stopping fired a shot with the result that
a mob of five hundred men chased them with swords and killed them
right in front of the wireless station stop
one jap who escaped was caught a little later and done to death in
the same way stop after burying their victims the mob went into the
station and raided the station looting the furniture and equipment
stop ends
by air bag to singapore for PR alfsea from mani army
observer begins october fifth stop acting
as quote guide unquote to the first troops of
the twentythird indian division comma twentyfour year
old sumatra born sikh captain jagjit singh dhillon fourteenth
punjab regiment was one of the first officers to arrive
in batavia stop he speaks malay fluently and also
chinese stop he was born in medan repeat medan sumatra
where his people have settled down stop they originally
came from village chabhal district amristar stop captain
dhillon had his early education in medan and later in
the punjab university stop in medan athletics he was a
well-known long distance runner and in batavia now among
the indonesians he is known as the only indian officer
who can speak their language fluently stop ends
Feature
for Jawan
Mani: Army Observer
Batavia:--- Inspite of a few unhappy clashes with armed mobs, Indian
troops are quite friendly with the local population. They move freely
with the Dutch, Eurasian, Indian and Indonesians whom they meet and are
generally happy.
Their main work consists in patrolling, escorting European
and Eurasian internees and refugees and guarding hospitals, vital
points and internment camps. In addition to
these, whenever the peace of the city is disturbed or looting occurrences
are reported, their detachments are rushed to maintain law and
order.
But their routine activities continue to
be the same. They have their morning "P.T." and parades and in the
evenings they either play volley-ball or hockey. As more sports goods
are available, the now empty playing-fields in Batavia will witness
the nimble footed Indians play with great joy their national game of
hockey.
All of them have comfortable lodgings. They have clean
baths and electric lights but the whole area had to be cleaned
thoroughly before they could use any of the buildings. Their recreat
rooms have been installed and what really makes them most happy are
the mails from home which have commenced to arrive regularly.
-------
Note for Editor: At the discretion of the DDPR, this may be sent
to PR Alfsea and India since I have not filed any copies for them.
Feature
for Jawan
Mani: Army Observer
Batavia:--- Inspite of a few unhappy clashes with armed mobs, Indian
troops are quite friendly with the local population. They move freely
with the Dutch, Eurasian, Indian and Indonesians whom they meet and are
generally happy.
Their main work consists in patrolling, escorting European
and Eurasian internees and refugees and guarding hospitals, vital
points and internment camps. In addition to
these, whenever the peace of the city is disturbed or looting occurences
are reported, their detachments are rushed to maintain law and
order.
But their routine activities continue to
be the same. They have their morning "P.T." and parades and in the
evenings they either play volley-ball or hockey. As more sports goods
the available, the now empty playing-fields in Batavia will witnees
the nimble footed Indians play with great joy their national game of
hockey.
All of them have comfortable lodgings. They have clean
baths and electric lights but the whole area had to be cleaned
thoroughly before they could use any of the buildings. Their recreatio
rooms have been installed and what really makes them most happy are
the mails from home which have commenced to arrive regularly.
-------
Note for Editor: At the discretion of the DDPR, this may be sent
to PR Alfsea and India since I have not filed any copies for them.
For PR alfsea from mani army observer begins batavia october
eighteen stop indian motor drivers who courageously faced the
heavily mined roads into Burma have now brought their vehicles
to batavia travelling more than four thousand miles by road and
sea. stop while they had to drive on land, they had to travel with
their vehicles in landing crafts over rough seas stop before
embarking on every sea voyage they had to attend to the waterproofing
and readjusting of their vehicles stop these men driving trucks
and jeeps are now driving de luxe and salion cars and know
their maintenance equally well stop the japs had neglected most
of their cars stop indian mechanics who have been with
these drivers throughout the fighting in nupnal are also here and have among them
a few who have been mechanics in big garages in india before the
war stop ends
story two
For PR alfsea from mani army observer begins batavia october
eighteen shop bengal sappers who lifted mines and booby traps
and built bridges and roads along the roads to burma and who
blew the japs out of their bunkers an now here doing almost
everything from turning off water taps in officers mess to
printing a small newspaper stop they have to repair fuses
replace bulbs and repair leaky taps stop all of a sudden they
receive a telephone call from some unit to attend to their
electric current failure and the sappers rush to set it right
stop another officer rings up to say that his bath room is
flooded and once again the sapper is there with his tools to
do the job stop official notices proclamations and a local
newspaper for troops is printed at a local press run by them
with Japanese and indonesian staff stop ends
Diary 1945
capt p r s mani indian army observer
25 Oct.
------ Landed at Sourabaya without any incident along with
the 49 Ind. Inf. Bde. Travelled on a LCI from Batavia and the sea
was often rough. Honavar and Donald with me. Irwin already at
Sourabaya. The port is "decorated" with anti-Dutch and anti-imperialist
slogans and for the first time in Java, slogans have also appeared
in Hindustani: "Azadi ya Khunrezi"(Freedom or bloodshed). Its effect
on Indian troops, especially the Mahrattas and the Rajrifs, who
compose this brigade, is remarkable. Reports have reached me that
they are already beginning to ask their officers if they have to
fight the indonesians. I have already been warned by the G1 at
Batavia that I have to be guarded as Sourabaya is an extremist centre.
Thelocals here don't seem to be as cordial as those in Batavia. When
I produced my passport from the Republican govt. and requested the
police at the harbour to produce me a car to get to the city, they
were most reluctant even to answer me and sneered at my Malay. Reached
Hotel Liberty in the evening in Tony Cardew's jeep which he had brought
along. The route was manned by heavily armed military and armed
police and a number of barricades were seen. None of them would
acknowledge greetings and they look suspicious. In the light of
incidents in and around Batavia, I think, they are beginning to
regard us as the vanguard of Dutch Imperialism. The pity is that we
are all Indians here and appreciate like their leaders in Batavia
that we have not come to Java of our own volition. We meet a few Local
Indians and they have warned us to be careful as they anticipate
trouble. Would like to talk to indonesians but have not met any today.
26th. Attned a press confce. in the evening. Brig Mall does not seem to
guage the situation here properly and pooh-poohs Indo might. Playing
for time, usual game. A thousand regrets I am not, a free correspondent
to report what I observe. Anyway duty by troops from my country and
cannot leave them..... Little Mena plays me their national anthem
(merdeka) on the piano in the hotel and as I watch her play, I see
the fire in her yes when ever the words 'merdeka (freedom)' come to
her lips. Hardly fifteen, she hypnotises me with her zeal for the
freedom of her country. she doesn't speak in english and we speak
malay. as I hid her goodnight, she pleads with me to take protection
during the coming days. Though I think her childish, her tears move
me but not till I go to bed do I have a vague suspicion that there
may be a blood-bath in store for us. The others in the hotel are
still drinking the plentiful beer. It's 12 and I must sleep.....
27 Oct.
------ The day rises brighter. I am more cheerfull. Jamal,
charming Stri Souchy and the Balinese Christian, all of the Youth
Party (Promoeda) call on me. They want to take correspondents round
the city on a conducted tour. We jump at the idea as we have no
transport of our own to go round. Conny (New York Times) and I choose
the Balinese girl for guide and she speaks fluent English. We are
first taken to the police HQ to be issued with permits. On our way
from there we notice circling spitfires dropping the ill-timed and
ill-fated leaflets which are to cause the deaths if hundreds of
Indian soldiers. Crowds rush to pick the leaflets but the police
prevent and snatch them away. Our guiles read a copy and look grave
I snatch one and read it in Malay and its meaning becomes quite dlear
to me. I feel that the proud Indonesians would not surrender their
arms till the fear of Dutch menace is removed. Our guides predict
trouble. They rush us to Antara (Press Agency) office and after
showing us round the place swiftly take us back to our hotel. Excited
talk there least interesting to both Honawar and me and so we tramp
to go and see a few more Indian merchants. Kundan, the President
of the Indian Assn and much harassed by our FSS, gives us plenty of
dope re the local situation. Honey, as usual the art critic, plies
them with a number of questions regarding Indo painting and dancing
and they promise to arrange for us a show of Bali dancing. We promised
to have luch with him tomorrow and tramp back to our hotel. Evening
press confce. all serious faces at birg ho. aslam chopra singh all
look grave. eye understand situation serious but brig does not want us
to report so. he wants to vet our copies and most correspondents
unwillingly agree. eve am furious that truth is being suppressed but
can do little and escape by blaming Betty for letting down PR and
taking such orders lying down... more because my copies are unneocly
delayed by him and the signals. appears to me brigadier is posing a
calm exterior though he is very much perturbed. He tells us that
the Ind.mil govr Dr Mustafa had fled from the town without fulfilling
his promise to execute the brig’s orders and that he has in his
custody another who is prepared to carry out the orders. He also
told us that he had emphatically told the locals
that he was the ruler of the place and they have to obey him.
Eye consider this sheer arrogance and left the confce sadly
disappointed at the ability of our leaders to avert incidents.
Went back to hotel and told Honey for the first time that we were
in a trouble spot and how sorry I felt for the Indian troops who
were weary of war and were longing to be back home. These famous warriors
seem to be forever trapped in the we of destiny to which they so
pathetically cling..... Mena plays again, this time the Moonlight
Sonata and I am reminded of Delhi, the Red Fort, the Jumna and my
friends... she looks sadly into my eyes and pleads with me to leave
the hotel and sourabaya at once but eye tell her that eye an Indian will
never flee in face of danger..... Honey butts in and plays a few Indian
tunes which stir me all the more and I retire..... Perhaps all my fears
are imaginary but why on earth are the Indonesians parading the streets
in armoured care and tanks. May be tomorrow everything would be quiet.
28th.
------
Jamal came early in the morning to apologise and promised to
show us the town as soon as everything became quite..... had excellent
lunch with Kundan and sat chatting till four when we walked back... on
our way, we heard the first shots and the peace the
the town was broken... more shots were heard and by dusk we heard the
sounds of battles raging... jat platoon of rairifs who were guarding us
took up positions. By seven the fire came and requested me to take
over command but Major Finlay, being senior officer, took over from me
and I remained to be his adjutant. We mobilised all the PR, RAPWI and
FSS personnel in the hotel and gave them their perimeters. Since the
fire was increasing, we stood to for two hours. Honawar, Donald, and
Irwin readily cooperated and took up positions along with the infantry.
I remained at command post to monitor our radio receiver since our
telephone communication with brigade HQ was cut. Our walkie talkie
was not tuned. We could not speak to either the brigade HQ or any of
our other troops outside but we were able to listen on our broadcast
receiver to all that the HQ and the other units were saying, each
unit or detachment was sending out an SOS and the HQ was replying that
they themselves were cut off and surrounded and that fierce battles
were raging. After reporting to Major Finlay about the broadcasts, I
went round the perimeter several times to encourage the
men. Meanwhile some telephone calls trickled through and one was from
Kundan telling me that Indonesians were anxious to call off the fight
and that I should arrange with the HQ to stop fighting. Betty, mean
that he was, intercepted the call and without telling me tried to get
at the HQ in vain. When the next ring came, I happened to take up the
telephone and explained to him that I could not leave the post and
that he should go personally to HQ. I cannot appreciate Betty sitting
tinkling with the telephone when all the others were on the perimeter
but since he told me that he had orders from Major Finlay to do so,
I did not interfere. About ten in the night, a broadcast from HQ
announced a truce, evidently Kundan has been successful, and we stood
down. All, except sentries, were sent to bed and I remained on duty
along with Donald. There was no more sound of gun five during the night
except for an occasional sniper being active.
Press Flash Immediate
For Public Relations batavia repeatsingapore and div hq from
mani army observer begins soerabaja october 25 stop indian
troops of the twentythird indian division landed this
afternoon at soerabaja stop there were no incidents stop
the rajputana rifles occupied the main harbour after landing
at rotterdam quay while fourth battalion of mahrattas occupied
the naval base stop as in batavia local reception was cold and
unenthusiastic and antidutch slogans greeted us all
over the harbour stop the few indonesians on the wharf appeared
indifferent stop indian troops reconnoitred the areas
not with pointed bayonets as usual but with their rifles slung
on their shoulders apparently in order to be least provocative
stop ends
Mani
Capt
25/x
For public relations batavia please pass singapore from mani
soerabaja oct 26 begins occupation soerabaja par indian troops
proceeding peacefully etaccording plan stop it is an extremely
delicate operation cum so far there has been no hitch
stop indonesian police escort allied military officers when
required cum they also provided an armed escort including
armoured cars for brigadier mallar by commander allied land
forces soerabaja on his way to and back from the british
consulate this morning where he conferred with local indonesian
leaders cum explained to them why his troops were here stop
armed locals patrol the streets cum vital points stop
quite large number of barricades are thrown across the main roads
in the form of speed traps cum only some of
them are manned stop all essential services with the indonesian
government and they are cooperating well with our troops stop
even after dusk they were busy shifting their office from a
building into which our headquarters moved in this afternoon stop
there is normal activity in the city and shops are open stop
large number of motor cars flying the indonesian flag pass
swiftly along the roads and a car flying an yellow flag in
addition to the national flag flies past them now and then
carrying doctor mustafa local military governor of soerabaja
stop this city appears to be a stronger centre of indonesian
nationalism than batavia cum the control is mostly in the hands
of the youth party stop ends
Mani
Capt
26/x
For public relations batavia please pass singapore from mani
soerabaja oct 27 begins indian merchants of soerabaja helped
to avert what would hare been a clash of arms between indian
troops and armed indonesians
soon after we landed here on the twentyfifth stop under the
impression that gurkha troops were landing and
since the local population were opposed to gurkhas indonesian
leaders approached the indian merchants and asked them
to advise, the gurkhas against advancing into soerabaja from
tanjeonperak harbour as they feared a clash stop meanwhile
indonesian leaders were in conference deciding on the kind
of reception to allied troops
stop on their way
to the harbour the indian merchants met an indian major
marching with indian troops to
whom they explained the situation and requested him to harbour
his troops outside
the city stop as it was dark by then and anxious to avoid a
scrap the major agreed stop
next morning as per
agreement with local leaders the major and his troops proceeded
to the city without incidents to take over their areas stop
here are about 500 indian merchants in soerabaya
Mani
Capt
27/x
For public relations batavia please pass singapore from mani
soerabaja oct 27 begins press conference this evening brigadier
mallerby commanding alfsoerabaja said that the occupation of
city by indian troops proceeding peaceably stop doctor mustafa
indonesian governor of east java met brigadier this afternoon
and agreed to a voluntary disarming of indonesians by the end
of the month in accordance with gen hawthornes proclamation
copies of which were dropped here form the air this morning stop
brigadier told doctor that his orders to disarm the indonesians
were direct from sacsea that voluntary disarmament should be
complete by the end of the month and that public utility
services in the hands of the indonesian government should
continue as at present stop all internees have been liberated
and are now in british protection stop some of them have been
already evacuated to singapore today stop more indian troops
have landed here today stop ends
Mani
Capt
27/x
Mani: Army Observer
5.11.45
Sourabaya, Nov.4: Thirtyfive year old Indian merchant,
Mr.T.D.Kundan from Hyderabad, Sind, played a leading role in the
"truce" negotiations between the British authorities here and
the Indonesian leaders. He is on the "Contact Committee" and is
the main ambassador between us and the local leaders with whom
he is extremely popular.
Today he is a much disappointed man.
Inspite of his best efforts to avoid a clash between our forces
and the armed gangs of the Indonesians, things took a turn for
the worse in Sourabaya. On the first night when armed indonesians
attacked us in strength, his car flying a white flag was speeding
along the bullet-swept roads between our headquarters and the
indonesians. While the battle was raging, he telephoned me twice
with "truce" offers from the locals to be conveyed to our headquarters.
He was present next to Brigadier Mallaby when xxxx latter was shot dead He
himself escaped with slight injuries.
Mr. Kundan graduatad from the Sind National
College, Karachi.
ends
Singapore, Nov.6: After six hours in an Indonesian jail and
four days internment in a hotel in Sourabaya, a party of pressmen and
photographers returned to Singapore yesterday. We were evacuated along
with the first flight of refugees comprising 500 Dutch and Eurasian
women and children.
Along with personnel of the RAPWI, we were billetted
in one of the largest hotels in the city with a platoon of Indian
troops for our defence. Small detachments of Indian troops were
scattered in different parts of the city.
We know the situation as tense but did not expect any
attack as early as that. But, when at four o'clock on the evening of
October 28, we heard the first shots fired by the indonesians, we
knew we were going to have a tough time. Our troops, sats of the
5th. Rajputana Rifles, exhibited good fire-discipline and did not open fire.
With the fall of dusk, the firing increased in intensity.
Our "walkie-talkie" went "dis" and we had no contact either with brigade
headquarters or any of our other troops. After an all-night vigil, we found
the locals much closer to us and firing with automatics at close range. One
of the Jats at the entrance to the hotel was wounded seriously and them we
opened fire.
Within a few minutes, we had two more casualties and since
we were short of men, we withdrew to an attic and arranged our defence. We had
four bren guns, twenty rifles and ten pistols. Our men defended themselves
for three hours. They had been at their posts since the previous evening
without food and sleep. But they were not tired and still determined to hold
the place.
The enemy fire, mostly from rifles and brens, increased in
intensity. Closing in on all sides, nearly 400 indonesians armed with tommy
guns, brens, machine revolvers, pistols, rifles, swords, bamboo apears and sticks
had surrounded us. Fire came from all sides and through the tiled roof. Four
more Jats were wounded and some of the wounded were dying of thirst and for
want of medical attention. We knew no help could come to us as our troops
everywhere were in the same plight., So, we decided to give in and the major
commanding us approached the indonesians with a white flag. A truce was
effected, our casualties were quickly evacuated by the indonesians in their
ambulances and we were stripped of our arms and ammunition. Meanwhile, part
of their army entered our rooms and took away most of our possessions.
On our way to the prison in a truck a few hours later
with guards pointing their loaded weapons at us, armed exodus jeered, aimed
and waved their weapons menacingly shouting "Merdeka" (freedom)
After four hours in small cells like those used for
convicts in India, a member of the Indonesian Youth Party came and announced
to us that Mr. Sockarno, who was in town that day, had passed orders releasing
all pressmen and photographers. We were released and taken to dine with
the Governor at Government House where profuse apologies were offered for
all that had happened.
page two
From then, we were kept in a comfortable hotel and our police
guard was reinforced as passing armed crowds began to threaten us. The
Governor tried to send us back to Batavia under an armed escort but while
in the train, our guards thought it better to take us back to Sourabaya
as they felt that it was unsafe to go any further west.
On the evening of November 1, we returned to our lines after
four hours in an unhealthy indonesian jail and comfortable internment for
four days. The Indonesians had been both cruel and kind to us. They
attacked us and would have killed us if we had not called a truce and they
looted all our belongings. But while we were in their "protective custody",
they made us comfortable and returned our typewriters and cameras.
ends
For "The Fighting Cock"
THE UBIQUITOUS 23rd.
:3: Rehearsal for Battle
When the autumn of 1943 arrived, it was felt that the Division
needed rest badly in a good climate after the hardships of fighting in
the monsoon. Though not the whole, a greater part of the Division was
able to rest and retrain in the healthy winter climate of the Imphal
plain. Rations were good though there was still a serious lack of all kinds of
fresh food.
Some troops were still holding several defences. The 37 de at Shenam were
relieved by the 20th. Indian Division only in
the middle of November while the 49 Bde. were not relieved at Shuganu
till December. In October, the 1/16 Punjab Regiment and 13 Mountain
Battery went to the assistance of 63 Ede of the 17th.Indian Division in
the Chin Hills. While the mountain battery did some excellent shooting,
the Punjabis were involved in stiff fighting in which they had been
encircled by the Japanese. Displaying their ususl tenacity they were
able to extricate all their troops after inflicting heavy casualties
on the enemy. This was not achieved without sacrifice and in this
encounter besides several troops, their C.O., Lt. Col Wilcock, his
adjutant and quartermaster were all killed. Both these units rejoined
the Division at the end of December 1943.
The bulk of the Division was now able to recuperate and the
health of the troops recovered remarkably. The Division was also able to
get through a programme of training which had been fait necessary in
the light of experience on the Burma border. The 1 and 37 Edes trained
with the 254 Indian Tank Brigade which arrived in Imphal in January 1944.
Later events showed that this was very valuable training. indeed.
(To be continued)
Mani: Indian Army Observer
29.11.45
DRAFT FOR APPROVAL
Sourabaya is another outstanding achievement of the 5th.
Indian Division. Given an altogether new kind of
task requiring determination as well as restraint, they have acquitted
themselves well. In Sourabaya, they had no formidable foes to fight
nor had they to counteract powerful enemy pincer moves and drives as they
did in North Africa and Burma and which brought them success and fame;
Though often groups of Indonesian extremists fought fanatically and
foolishly, Indonesian resistance was not in any organised fashion.
Spirited charges with bows and arrows and bamboo spears on our tanks
and wasting of ammunition on useless objectives were what we witnessed
Minimum of casualties, rescue of thousands, of internees
and causing the least possible damage to public property and to the
unfortunate civilians of all nationalities including indonesian were th
essence of this operation which was carried out as required. Our
casualties have been low in keeping with the slow speed of our advance
Nineteen days were spent in clearing the town of armed indonesian
hotheads. Our troops have earned the gratitude of the internees and
the civilians. Indian, Gurkha and British troops of this Division have
shown admirable adaptability to the special circumstances in Sourabaya.
Maj-Gen E.C. Mansergh, O.B.E., M.C., the Commander of the Division,
writing personally to commanders of all units who took part in the
Sourabaya operations, has congratulated and thanked all the troops
for "their having accomplished so successfully the task of clearing
Sourabaya and for their splendid success in a particularly exacting
operation". He has also paid a tribute to the Royal Navy and the
Royal Air Force for "their accurate and willing support which has been
a considerable factor in the success of this operation and has earned
the admiration and tanks of the ground forces".
ends
Mani
Capt
29/11
Mani: Indian Army Observer
1 Dec '45
For public relations batavia please pass singapore from mani begins
sourabaya december first stop supporting the first madras infantry
with his troops of sherman tanks in the recent souraobaya operations
a young madrasi tank troop leader has earned the gratitude of the
madrasxxxx soldier stop he is lieutenant tee kay theogaraj of palamcottal
tinnevelley district madras province and of the 13 duke of connaughts
own lancers stop he has seen service in italy and is quite used to
tank battles inside towns and cities stop on a patrol south of the
wonokromo canal a few days ago he destroyed three ack ack guns
couple of two pounder antitank guns and one large 105 mm gun stop
after smashing one indonesian road block one of the antitank guns
opened fire from behind and was making very near misses stop quickly
veering his tank round he got to within sixty yards of the gun and
opened up stop the shermans guns belching fire sent the antitank
gun and its crew high up into the air stop a convoy of indonesian
lorries carrying their retreating troops and stores also met with
the same fate stop the madrassis call him quote gun bursting raju
unquote stop ends
mani
capt
1/12
5 Ind. Div. 21
Public Relation Cathay Building-singapere
public Relation Batavia
FOR HORROCKS FOR MANI HEGINS SOURABAYA WEDNESDAY(.) BESIDES SUPPRESSING
THE INDONESIAN EXTREMIST RISING INDIAN TROOPS HERE HAVE BEEN DOING
MAGNIFICENT WORK DAILY RESCUING HUNDREDS OF CHINESE DUTCH AND EUARASIAN WOMEN
AND CHILDREN(.) WHILE DOING THIS THEY HAVE OFTEN GONE BEYOND OUR
LINES INTO EXTREMIST POSITIONS AND IN THE FACE OF SNIPER AND MORTAR FIRE
RESCUED THESE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAD BEEN
STARVING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BY THEN (.) DURING THE
LAST TWO DAYS THE SECOND FIRST PUNJAB REGIMENT AFTER OCCUPYING THE EMMA
SCHOOL HAVE SENT OUT RESCUE PATROLS TO FETCH HUNDREDS OF THESE WOMEN AND
CHILDREN INTO OUR LINES (.) IN THIS HUMANITARIAN WORK THESE SOLDIERS FROM
THE PUNJAB
HAVE DISPLAYED THE SAME COURAGE AND SACRIFICES AS IN THE DAYS OF
WAR WHEN THEY OPENED THE NGAKYED AUK PASS IN ARAKAAN(.) AT FIRST THESE
REFUGEES CAME DRIBBEING INTO OUR LINES IN GROUPS OF FIVE AND TEN AS THE
PUNJABIS ADVANCED ON MONDAY TOWARDS THE EMMA SCHOOL(.) THEY INFORMED
OUR TROOPS OF MANY MORE HUNDREDS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE CUSTODY OF
ARMED INDONESIANS BEYOND OUR LINES AND ALMOST ON THE VERGE OF DEATH DUE
TO STARVATION AND THE SHOCK OF BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BATTLEFIELD(.)
MANY OF THESE WOMEN WERE ACTUALLY
RENDERING MEDICAL AID TO THE INDONESIAN WOUNDED BUT THESE FASCIST INSPIRED
EXTREMISTSHAD NO HEART FOR THEIR WORK AND PERMITTED THEM TO STARVE(.)
IMMEDIATELY LT COL SARBJEET SINGH KALHA DSO COMMANDER OF THE PUNJABEES
SENT OUT RESCUE PATROLS BEYOND OUR LINES TO FETCH THESE THEM(.) ARMED
INDONESIAN GUARDS HAD BEEN POSTED AT EVERY HOUSE WHEREIN WERE COLLECTED
FIFTY OR SIXTY OF THESE WOMEN AND CHILDERN(.) A TWENTY YEAR OLD EURASIAN
GIRL WEARING THE RED CROSS ON HER ARM ESCORTED BY ONE
OF OUR SOLDIERS APPRAOCHED OUR FORWARD COMPANY COMMANDER
CONTINUED Pxxxx
PAGE TWO
PAGE TWO CONTINUED
MAJOR MOHAMED IQBAL OF KALANAUR DISTRICT ROHTAK DELHI AND PEEADED WITH
HIM FOR THE RESCUE OF THE HER COMRADES SEVERAL OF WHOM WERE SICK AND
WOUNDED AND MOST OF WHOM WERE DYING OF STARVATION(.) THE PUNJABIS WENT
INSPITE OF BOOBY TRAPS AND SNIPERS AND GRADUALLY BROUGHT BACK THESE
WOMEN AND CHILDREN(.) THE PUNJABIS HAD TO EITHER SHOOT DOWN THEIR
INDONESIAN GUARDS OR DISARM THEM BUT THEY MOSTLY RAN AWAY(.) BUT AS SOON
AS THE REFUGEES SAW OUR TROOPS THEY RAN TO THEM AND MADE WARM HEARTED
DEMONSTRATIONS OF THEIR xxxx(.) THE MEN VOLUNTEERED WITH ALL
THEIR RATIONS TO FEED THE REFUGEES IMMEDIATELY AND BETWEEN MOUTHFULS OF
THE MANNA THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO THEM BY THE PUNJABIS THESE WOMEN WERE
ECSTATIC WITH JOY RELIEF AND THANKFULNESS(.) LITTLE CHILDREN WITH
BISCUITS IN THEIR HANDS CAME AND LOOKED UP WITH ADMIRATION AT THE TALL
HANDSOME PUNJABIS AND THOUGH LANGUAGE SEPARATED THEM THEIR EYES EXPRESSED
GRATITUDE AND MORE THAN ANY HONOURS OF WAR THE PUNJABIS TODAY CHERISH
THE PICTURE OF THESE CHILDREN LOOKING UP AT THEM AND THEY CONSIDER IT
EQUALLY HIGH HONOUR TO BE SOLDIERS IN THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY(.)
IN ONE DAY ON TUESDAY THE PUNJABIS RESCUED NEARLY FOUR HUNDRED WOMEN
AND CHILDREN FROM THE HANDS OF THE INDONESIAN EXTREMISTS(.) QUOTE WE
OWE OUR LIVES TO THE INDIAN TROOPS(.) BUT FOR THEM WE MUST HAVE BEEN
DYING A GRADUAL DEATH IN INDONESIAN HANDS(.) THIS HAS BEEN OUR FIRST
CONTACT WITH INDIAN TROOPS AND WE HAVE NO WORDS TO EXPRESS OUR ADMIRATION
FOR THEIR COURAGE KINDNESS AND HOSPITALITY
UNQUOTE A TWENTY YEAR OLD EURASIAN
GIRL SAED TO ME (.) SHE WAS BORN AND BRED IN SOURABAYA BUT NOW THE EXTREMISTS
HAVE MADE HER HOMELESS AND A REFUGE ALONG WITH HER AGED PARENTS(.)
eighteen stop indian motor drivers Who courageously faced the
heavily mined roads into Burma have now brought their vehicles
to batavia travelling more than four thousand miles by road and
sea. stop while they had to drive on land, they had to travel with
their vehicles in landing crafts over rough seas stop before
embarking on every sea voyage they had to attend to the waterproxxxxing
and readjusting of their vehicles stop these men driving truxxxx
and jeeps are now driving de luxe and saloon cars and know
their maintenance equally well stop the japs had neglected most
of their cars stop indian mechanics who have been with
these drivers throughout the war are also here and have among the
a few who have been mechanics in big garages in India before the
war stop ends
story two
For PR alfsea from mani army observer begins Batavia October
eighteen begins bengal sappers who lifted mines and booby traps
and built bridges and roads along the roads to burma and who
blew the japs out of their bunkers are now here doing almost
everything from turning off water taps in officers mess to
printing a small newspaper stop they have to repair fuses
replace bulbs and repair leaky taps stop all of a sudden they
receive a telephone call from some unit to attend to their
electric current failure and the sappers rush to set it right
stop another officer ring up to say that his bath room is
flooded and once again the sapper is there with his tools to
do the job stop official notices proclamations and a local
newspaper for troops is printed at a local press run by them
with Japanese and Indonesian staff stop ends
For PR alfsea from mani army observer begins batavia
october thirteen stop two more incidents occurred yesterday
afternoon in xxxx indian troops had to open fire purely in
self defence against an unruly mob armed with spears and
daggers stop while on his way to inspect his guards at
the kpm hospital in the ziekenhuis area a senior officer of
the patiala regiment noticed road blocks
with boulders and logs of wood in the process of being
established by the locals stop since he did not have enough
men with him he passed them by and while returning from the
hospital he saw six road blocks manned by a crowd
armed with daggers and spears stop instead of clearing the
barriers when requested by him the crowd shouted menacingly
and commenced throwing stones at his vehicle
one of which breaking windscreen the windscreen injured him slightly
stop as he saw the mob closing in on him he ordered them
to disperse but the latter waving their swords and dahs
took up a threatening attitude stop after firing one shot
he told them quote pegi unquote meaning go away but they
continued to be menacing and so he and his men fired three
more shots killing two and wounding one stop then the crowd
dispersed and he removed the other five barriers without any
further incident stop as he reached a section post the crowd
was following him when they were once again told to disperse
but they remained and maintained a threatening attitude stop
as crowd approached the post out troops fired four shots
after which the crowd dispersed stop another patrol of sikhs
on a different road were attacked with spears later in the
evening when they were forced to fire one round
and arrest ex nine men who were manning a road block
stop ends
Mani
Capt
13/x
Feature
for Jawan
Mani:Army Observer
Batavia:––– Inspite of a few unhappy clashes with armed mobs, Indiar
troops are quite friendly with the local population. They move freely
with the Dutch, Eurasian, Indian and Indonesians whom they meet and are
generally happy.
Their main work consists in patrolling, escorting Europea
and Eurasian internees and refugees and guarding hospitals, vital
points and internment camps. In addition to
these, whenever the peace of the city is disturbed or looting occurences
are reported, their detachments are rushed to maintain law and
order.
But their routine activities continue to
be the same. They have their morning “P.T.” and parades and in the
evenings they either play volley-ball or hockey. As more sports goods
are available, the now empty playing-fields in Batavia will witness
the nimble footed Indians play with great joy their national game of
hockey.
All of them have comfortable lodgings. They have clean
baths and electric lights but the whole area had to be cleaned
thoroughly before they could use any of the buildings. Their recreate
rooms have been installed and what really makes them most happy are
the mails from home which have commenced to arrive regularly.
-------
Note for Editor: At the discretion of the DDPR, this may be sent
to PR Alfsea and India since I have not filed any copies for them.
They also have a half hour
tadis programme with Huidxxxx form the
local vadis station which they wrote to,
besides news, both recorded and live number
Mani
capt
18/x
Mani:Indian Army Observe
1 Dec ‘45
For public relations batavia please pass singapore from mani begins
sourabaya december first stop supporting the first madras infantry
with his troops of Sherman tanks in the recent sourabaya operations
a young madrasi tank troop leader has earned the gratitude of the
madrasi soldier stop he is lieutenant tee kay theogaraj of palamcottah
tinnevelley district madras province and of the 13 duke of connaughts
own lancers stop he has seen service in italy and is quite used to
tank battles inside towns and cities stop on a patrol south of the
wonokromo canal a few days ago he destroyed three ack ack guns
couple of two pounder antitank guns and one large 105 mm gun stop
after smashing one indonesian road block one of the antitank guns
opened fire from behind and was making very near misses stop quickly
veering his tank round, he got to within sixty yards of the gun and
opened up stop the shermans guns belching fire sent the antitank
gun and its crew high up into the air stop a convoy of indonesian
lorries carrying their retreating troops and stores also met with
the same fate stop the madrassis call him quote gun bursting raju
unquote stop ends
Mani
capt
1/12
Mani: Indian Army Observer
For public relations batavia please pass Singapore wireless from
mani begins soerabaja november elementh indian gurkha et british
troops of the fifth indian division have advanced further into
the town mostly against sniper opposition stop
artillery bombardment of areas wherein armed Indonesians are
concentrated continues stop eye went round the portion of the
town so far occupied by us and eye did not notice much damage
stop the main streets were deserted stop all big
buildings which have been my landmarks in the town some ten day
ago are still in tact stop women and children are pouring into
our lines among whom are eurasians and indonesians and our
troops are feeding them stop while Chinese residents remained
behind in their homes in the occupied zone indonesian civilians
are gradually coming back stop ends
Mani
capt
11/11
Mani:Indian Army Observer
4.12.45
For public relations batavia from mani please pass Singapore begins
sourabaya december fourth stop former swimming champion of cochin south
india major cp ayyappa menon first madras regiment has added a
sourabaya achievement to his swimming career stop in recent operations
commanding a company of madrassis on the north bank of the wonokromo
canal he and his men were fired upon with mortars and machine guns by
the indonesians who were in a village on the opposite bank stop the canal
was thirty yards wide and the only boat was lying on the indonesian bank
stop on his own initiative and acting with quick decision major menon asking his
men to give him covering fire plunged into the canal stop dodging and
ducking mortars and machine gun and sniper fire he brought the boat safely
to his own bank stop within a few minutes with a section of his men he
crossed the canal in the boat and cleared the village stop quote eye saw
the boat on the farther bank and eye saw the water and eye found a
swim was necessary to conclude my task stop it was exciting and it was my
first swim under fire stop unquote said major menon to me stop ends
story two an accidental enquiry by an army postal officer led to the
recovery of two bags of mail containing nearly 3,000 letters which had
been lost by the 49 indian infantry brigade during the october
disturbances in sourabaya stop the mail was addressed to hundreds of
indian soldiers from their homes in india stop while on his way to inspecxxxx
forward field post office the officer noticed at a sentry post a dogra
sepoy examining an envelope stop
with the postmans pride the officer
asked the sepoy how soon he had received his mail to which the latter
said that it did not belong to him stop on perusal the officer found
the letter addressed to the 49 origade and on searching with the aid of
the sepoy the place wherefrom he had picked up the latter discovered
most of the lost mail and postal equipment stop sorting them in a few
hours the postal staff had them delivered to the addresses within a
day stop ends
For public relations batavia please pass singapore from
mani begins sourabaya november 24 stop making a sweeping move on
our left flank across the river kalimas the ninth indian infantry
brigade composing jats madrassis and punjabis have linked up with
troops of the one two three brigade near the gobeng railway station
stop the opposition appeared stiff in the beginning of the move
yesterday when the madrassis fought a pitched battle but today
there was little opposition stop our forward line extends a little
south of and parallel to the tramway line from the tramway
workshops in the sawahan area to gobeng station from where our left
flank extends almost along the canal running close to the railway
workshops atop our troops are now consolidating have before them
only the gobeng and darmo areas of the town to be cleared stop
during the last few days our tanks have completely shaken up the
moral of the indonesian extremists stop last week they made a
fanatical attack with spears and sticks on one of our tanks but now
at the mere approach of our tanks they desert their machine gun
posts and make a sash for cover even as the first burst from one
of our tanks sends their machine guns up in the air flying behind
them stop ends
Mani
capt
24/11
Mani:Indian Army Observer
25.11.45
For public relation batavia please pass singapore from
mani begins sourabaya november twentyfifith stop nearly
200 tons of supplies is being nandled every day by a field maintenance
unit in sourabaya which has to feed thousands of
troops and refugees and hundreds of jap prisoners who work
at the docks in the absence of local labour stop while the
problem of feeding the army is systematised and hence
presents no difficulties food distribution
for the 4000 refugees who flood into our lines
all times of the day and night is by no means easy for a
supply unit strained by the long years of war stop under capt
pn singh and capt nk khanna of lahore the men of this
riasc unit have seen to it that these women and children
get proper and good food particularly after
days of starvation stop they they have to issue special food
and comforts to hospitals stop supply of ammunition and
petrol to units is also their responsibility and they
distribute nearly 200000 gallons of petrol stop ends
Mani
capt
25/11
Mani:Indian Army Observer
26.11. 45
For public relations batavia please pass Singapore from mani
begins sourabaya november 26 stop famous Indian tankmen comma
veterans of north africa and burma comma with their
stuart tanks made a lighting raid this morning into the
darmo area of the town and put
to rout it’s indonesian defenders stop these are men from the
eleventh indian cavalry popularly known as prince albert
and queen victorias own cavalry stop early this morning one
squadron of these tanks left our lines and driving at speed
shot up cars and vehicles on the road and sent shells flying
into the sidestreets and byelanes throwing up doors
windows and articles of furniture into the air stop within
three hours traversing nearly ten miles in all they
entered fork roads and made a wide and complete sweep of
the area to the north of coen boulevard stop the indonesians
were completely surprised their road blocks not being me
manned and the indoneisan troupes were caught napping as
they were drining their early morning tea stop two of their
headquarters were thrown into pell mell and all of them ran
for cover throwing away their arms and raising shrieks of
terror stop the situation was so exciting and dramatic that
our tank troop commanders instead of the usual crypt wireless
mesages began to broadcast eye witness accounts on their
wireless stop eye have been with this men in burma when they
made swooping raids in armored cars into the of jap territory and they
came out with flying colours every time stop the war in sourabay
does not excite them equally inspite of several tank showing
demonstration by the Indonesian extremists stop in this raixxxx
they destroyed one ack ack gun and three antitank
guns
stop one of our tanks was hit saintly and its crew escape
with minor injuries stop later punjxxxxbis and dogras with tank
support have mopped up the area raided by the
stuarts stop ends
Mani
capt
25/11
Mani:Indian Army observer
26;II;45
For public relations bata ia please pass singapore
from mani begins sourabaya November 26 stop It gen
sir miles Christopher dempsey kcb kbe dso me cinc
alfsea who was on a visit here some days ago has
sent a congratulatory message to the troops of the
fifth Indian di ision stop xxxx eye want to congratulate
you and the troops under your command on the splendor
way in which you are all carrying out your inuidious
task stop para by forethought and careful planning
and by the skill and courage of your troops you are
doing the job with the least
possible loss to ourselves and to the unfortunate
people who find themselves unwilling participants
in the battle stop para you have saved the great
satisfaction of knowing that you have saved the
lives of many thousands of women and children who
are now safe in our hands and you may well feel
proud of all you have accomplished stop good luck
to you all stop unquote ends
Mani
capt
26/11
27.11.45
For public relations batavia please pass singapore from mani
Begins sourabaya november 27 stop seventyfive indians
including women and children have been brought into the
occupied area today stop yesterday as punjabis and
dogras advanced into the darmo area two leading indians
slipped into our lines and requested help to evacuate the
rest of them stop while a small percentage of indians left
sourabaya for singapore before the ninth november most of them
remained behind to look after their shops and homes stop in
the first few days of our advance we brought under protection
about a hundred of our them stop but those living the centre
of the town concentrated themselves together in the coen
boulevard in the darmo area and these are the people who
came in today stop all of them are safe and without any
wounds whatsoever stop they told me that the indonesians did
treat them well and did no ham to them stop they report of
several more indians including the head of
their community and our peacemaker sometimes ago kundan
das who have evacuated to the interior with their families stop
ends
Mani
capt
27/11
Mani:Indian Army Observer
28.11.45
For public relations batavia please pass singapore from mani
begins sourabaya novemoer 28 stop with the bridgeheads
established this morning across the wonokromo canal by two
renowned punjabi battalions the occupation of sourabaya town
is virtually complete stop these are men from the second first
punjabi regiment who won renown in arakan and kohima and men
from the third second punjab regiment who are veterans of this
war since north africa and are one of the xxxxdest battalions
in the fifth indian division stop they were not Supposed and are
now operating as patrols further south into the wonokromo area
stop within the town troops are vigorously searching
for hidden arms ammunition and armed indonesians stop
patrols to the sea coast to the east and west of the town find very
little opposition stop the wonokromo gas works oil worKs and
locks and sluices are now in our hands and their serviceability
is being investigated stop our tanks
also have gone out on patrol along the modjokorto and sidoarjo
roads leading to the west and south respectively from the
town stop ends
Mani
capt
28/11
mani:indian army observer
For public relations batavia please pass telecomwise Singapore
from mani begins soerabaja november twelfth stop mopping up
in areas of the town occupied by us has begun and further
advance into the town continued today against mostly sniper
and machine gun opposition stop for the first time two or
three sevetyfive millimetre guns fired at us from the indonesian
side but no damage was caused stop they became silent as soon
as the guns of the royal navy brought fire upon their
gun positions stop indonesian ackack and mortars were also in
evidence today stop our casualties have been extremely light
while the counting of indonesian casualties has been rendered
difficult owing to the fact that the latter remove their dead
quickly stop our aircraft on reconnaissance have observed
indonesians digging in several parts of the town stop upto this
evening there has been no response from the locals to are xxxx if they
desired to send anyone to speak to our commander stop according
to an unofficial estimate there were about fifteen
thousand trained indonesian troops in the town in addition to
several times that number of armed people who know to handle
rifles stop ends
Mani
capt
12/11
Mani: Indian Army Observer
24.11.45
For public relations batavia please pass singapore from mani
begins piece two sourabaya november twentyfourth stop prompt
and bold action by a dogra naik averted a serious situation
for the first dogra regiment while they were advancing
along the west bank of the river kalimas on thursday stop
since we had no troops on the east bank the dogras were exposed
to fire from the indonesian guns on the other bank stop one of
our machine gun posts on the water's edge was covering our
advance along a bridge held by us stop when its first gunner
was wounded severely and a second gunner on his way
to take over was also wounded fatally lance
naik faquir chand dogra rajput of village naror district
undampur in change of the gun section rushed out of cover and
exposing himself to more than twenty yards swept by machine
gun fire brought back the wounded first gunner to safety stop
then once again daunting the twenty yards of fire he manned the
machine gun post and silenced the indonesian gun by
killing its entire crew stop but for his prompt and bold action
our advance would have been held up causing us quite heavy
casualties stop ends
Mani
Capt
24/11
5 Ind. Div.
Public Relations Gathay Building Singapore
Public Relation Batavia
FOR HORROCKS FROM MANI BEGINS SOURABAYA WEDNESDAY(.) BESIDES SUPPRESSING
THE INDONESIAN EXTREMIST RISING INDIAN TROOPS HERE HAVE BEEN DOING
MAGNIFICENT WORK DAILY RESCUING HUNDREDS OF CHINESE DUTCH/AND EUARASIAN WOMEN
AND CHILDREN (.) xxxxNILE DOING THIS THEY HAVE OFTEN GONE HEYOND OUR
LINES INTO EXTREMIST POSITIONS AND IN THE FACE OF SNIPER AND MORTAR FIRE
RESCUED THESE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAD BEEN
STARVING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BY THEN (.) DURING THE
LAST TWO DAYS THE SECOND FIRST PUNJAB REGIMENT AFTER OCCUPYING THE EMMA
SCHOOL HAVE SENT OUT RESCUE PATROLS TO FETCH HUNDRES OF THESE WOMEN AND
CHILDREN INTO OUR LINES (.) IN THIS HUMANITARIAN WORK THESE SOLDIERS FROM
THE PUNJAB
HAVE DISPLAYED THE SAME COURAGE AND SACRIFICE AS IN THE DAYS OF
WAR WHEN THEY OPENED THE NGAK YEDAUK PASS IN ARAKAAN (.) AT FIRST THESE
REFUGEES CAME DRIBBLING INTO OUR LINES IN GROUPS OF FIVE AND TEN AS THE
PUNJABIS ADVANCED ON MONDAY TOWARDS THE EMMA SCHOOL(.) THEY INFORMED
OUR TROOPS OF MANY MORE HUNDREDS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE CUSTODY OF
ARMED INDONESIANS BEYOND OUR LINES AND ALMOST ON THE VERGE OF DEATH DUE
TO STARVATION AND THE SHOCK OF BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BATTLEFIELD(.)
MANY OF THESE WOMEN WERE ACTUALLY
RENDERING MEDICAL AID TO THE INDONESIAN WOUNDED BUT THESE FASCIST INSPIRED
EXTREMISTSHAD NO HEART FOR THEIR WORK AND PERMITTED THEM TO STARVE(.)
IMMEDIATELY LT COL SARBJEET SINGH KALHA DSO COMMANDER OF THE PUNJABEES
SENT OUT RESCUE PATROLS BEYOND OUR LINES TO PETOH THEM(.) ARMED
INDONESIAN GUARDS HAD BEEN POSTED AT EVERY HOUSE WHEREIN WHEN COLLECTED
FIFTY OR SIXTY OF THESE WOMEN AND CHILDREN(.) A TWENTY YEAR OLD EURACIAN
GIRL WEARING THE RED CROSS ON HER ARM ESCORTED BY ONE
OF OUR SOLDIERS APPROACHED OUR FORWARD COMPANY COMMANDER
CONTINUED PAGE TWO
PAGE TWO
PAGE TWO CONTINUED
MAJOR MOHAMED IQBAL OF KALANAUR DISTRICT ROHTAK DELHI AND PEEADED WITH
HIM FOR THE RESCUE OF THE HER COMRADES SEVERAL OF WHOM WERE SICK AND
WOUNDED AND MOST OF WHOM WERE DYING OF STARVATION(.) THE PUNJABIS WENT
INSPITE OF BOOBY TRAPS AND SNIPERS xxxxD GRADUALLY BROUGHT BACK THESE
WOMEN AND CHILDREN(.) THE PUNJABIS HAD TO EITHER SHOOT DOWN THEIR
INDONESIAN GUARDS OR DISARM THEM BUT THEY MOSTLY RAN AWAY(.) BUT AS SOON
AS THE REFUGEES SAW OUR TROOPS THEY RAN TO THEM AND MADE WARM xxxxTED
DEMONSTRATIONS OF THEIR GAxxxx(.) THE MEN VOLUNTEERED WITH ALL
THEIR RATIONS TO FEED THE REFUGEES IMMEDIATELY AND BETWEEN MOUTHFULS OF
THE MANNA THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO THEM BY THE PUNJABIS THESE WOMEN WERE
ECSTATIC WITH JOY RELIEF AND THANKFULNESS(.) LITTLE CHILDREN WITH
BISCUITS IN THEIR HANDS CAME AND LOOKEDUP WITH ADMIRATION AT THE TALL
HANDSOME PUNJABIS AND THOUGH LANGUAGE SEPARATED THEM THEIR EYES EXPRESSED
GRATITUDE AND MORE THAN ANY HONOURS OF WAR THE PUNJABIS TODAY CHERISH
THE PICTURE OF THESE CHILDREN LOOKING UP AT THEM AND THEY CONSIDER IT
AN EQUALITY A HIGH HONOUR TO BE SOLDIERS IN THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY(.)
IN ONE DAY ON TUESDAY THE PUNJABIS RESCUED NEARLY FOUR HUNDRED WOMEN
AND CHILDREN FROM THE HANDS OF THE INDONESIAN EXTREMISTS(.) QUOTE WE
ONE OUR LIVES TO THE INDIAN TROOPS(.) BUT FOR THEM WE MUST HAVE BEEN
DYING A GRADUAL DEATH IN INDONESIAN HANDS(.) THIS HAS BEEN OUR FIRST
CONTACT WITH INDIAN TROOPS AND WE HAVE NO WORDS TO EXPRESS OUR ADMIRATION
FOR THEIR COURAGE KINDNESS AND HOSPITALITY
UNQUOTE A TWENTY YEAR OLD EURAGIAN
GIRL SAID TO ME(.) SHE WAS BORN AND BRED IN SOURABAYA BUT NOW THE EXTREMISTS
HAVE MADE HER HOMELESS AND A REFUGEE ALONG WITH HER AGED PARENTS(.)
Mani: Indian Army Observer
23.11.45
For public relations batavia please pass singapore from mani begins
november twentythird stop orange novel a prominent
landmark on the pxxxx ossar roxxxxd and one of the blxxxxst novels in
sourabaya was captured this afternoon by the first dogra regiment
stop it was in this novel that correspondents and photographers were
captured in the last weak of october by the Indonesians stop the
opposition was not stiff as most of the indonesians who had daxxxx in ran
away an the approach of our tanks stop appearances to the novel had be a
mined by the indonesians but since this information had be xxxx earlier
brought in by car patrole we were prepared for it stop the indonesians
contentxxxx offer forty stiff resistance on our left flank across the
river xxxxall as step the opposition is mostly from light xxxxne gens
and xxxxpers in well concealed positions stop the indonesians stick to their
positions till our tanks close txxxx they run out return to snipe after
we counselxxxx and xxxx in stop yesterday a section the first
madras rushed xxxx machine gun post und captured the guns after killing the
crew stop ends
Mani
Capt
23/11
Mani: Indian Army Observer
For public relations batavia please pass singapore from mani
begins sourabaya november twentysecond stop since yesterday
evening there has been reduction in indonesian artillery activity against us
stop in addition to large quantities of
ammunition nine 120mm howitzers and four bofor ackack guns
have been recovered guns from the race course
area stop yesterday the indonesians lost one light tank and
one armoured car stop there was a dramatic lull on the pesar
bazaar front this morning when dogras awaited the approach
under white flag of the indonesian minister mangaoen koesoemxxxx
who had been urgently summoned by his government at batavia
stop there copies of letter to koxxxxsoemo conveying the message
from batavia and containing the safe conduct with
proper instructions for approaching our lines were
dropped at three different places by our aircraft yesterday
stop at exactly half past eight this morning the hour fixed
the dogras put up a prominent white flag in front of their
forward position but this was greeted by an indonesian flag
stop an indonesian tank along with about eighty armed man
made their appearance next but there was no sign of the minister
stop then one of our as xxxxned cars with a white flag advanced
a little further and noticed armed indonesians running to and
fro but a none of them approached our car it
withdraw stop our troops had waited nearly an hour and the
minister did not come stop ends note for editor please let us
know delay if any in the receipt of my copies stop ends
Mani
Capt
22/11
Mani: Indian Army Observer
21.11.45
For public relations batavia please pass singapore from mani
begins sourabaya november twentyfirst stop an
outstanding patrol yesterday morning by men of the first
madras regiment located an ack ack gun position being set up
by the indonesians to the west of the airstrip seriously
threatening our use of the airstrip stop this
patrol under jemadar prk rama rao of coconada town east
godavari district madras province brought back accurate information
xxxxe the gun position and immediately our planes strafed and
bombed the area stop in the afternoon on his
way to investigate the results of the bombing he and his
platoon were quote ambushed unquote by nearly two hundred
armed indonesians stop the indonesian ambush consists in laying
tree trunks along the road and to crowd near there on the
approach of our troops stop the unruly noises they make is
quite predominant on such occasions stop jemadar rao and his
men killed fifteen indonesians and returned to his base
without suffering any casualties atop on monday night the
second first punjabis had to withdraw from the emma school
owing to the explosion of an ammunition dump nearby but
reoccupied the school yesterday morning and evacuated from the
area one hundred and seventy five more dutch women and children
stop the tramway workshop has also been occupied by our
troops as also a dairy farm containing three hundred and fifty
cows stop ends
Mani
Capt
21/11
Mani: Indian Army Observer
19.11.45
For public relations batavia please pass singapore telecomwise from mani
begins soerabya november nineteen stop two thirds of the town of sourabaya
has now been occupied by the fifth indian division in the course of which
occupation they have captured altogether 800 rifles, 52 light automatics, 48 heavy
machine guns, 33 guns including two 75mm guns, ten mortars, seven light
tanks, 402 swords, 40 spears, 200 shot guns and two bows with 20 arrows stop
one of our patrols found a dead jap in a weapon pit in the area to the
east of the river kalimas which brings the total number of jap bodies
found by us so far to four stop yesterday first punjabis occupied the
emma school against tanks stiff opposition wherefrom 60 dutch women and children
were recovered stop in addition to a large ammunition dump
another was discovered in the area containing half manufactured rifles
giving the impression of a local arms factory stop since yesterday our
fighting patrols have been active to the east of the river kalimas stop
men from the west yorks regiment along with tanks of the eleventh indian
cavalry on a patrol killed 14 indoneisans and captured one heavy machine
gun one light machine gun and several her weapons stop mahratta patrol
approaching a village was fired upon and as the villagers stood by to
watch 41 of their armed countrymen being killed and on the return journey
the mahrattas killed four more stop last night the indonesians made two
small attacks on our forward positions and were easily repulsed stop
indonesian guns mortars and ack ack are still
quite active stop sniping continues on a smaller scale fanatical
attacks are fewer in number and their resistance is gradually weakening
stop ends
Mani
Capt
17/11
Mani: Indian Army Observer
For public relations batavia please pass telecomwise Singapore
from mani begins soerabaya november seventeenth stop nearly half of sourabaya
town is now in british hands stop operations here
may be said to be entering on its second phase and our troops are
pushing on against gradually decreasing opposition stop in addition to
the capture of a large number of rifles and machine guns two indonesian
seventyfive millimetre guns were bagged by the jats today stop one
Indonesian light tanks has also been knocked out stop but their artillery
and mortar fire on a lesser scale continues stop second first punjabis
have advanced farthest south upto the orange school against mostly
sniper opposition stop they have also opened the prison nearby and
there were only five
dutchmen in it who have been brought safely to our lines stop more
eurasian and chinese refugees from that area are now safe in camps which
we have set up for them stop indonesian torture of chinese continues st
last night indonesians rounded up half a dozen residents and burnt them
in their houses stop on madoera island little activity has been noticed
except for more gun positions in the process of preparation but without
any guns stop ends
Mani
Capt
17/11
Mani: Indian Army Observer
For public relations batavia please pass telecomwise singapore
from mani begins soerabaya november sixteenth stop three striking
advances to the east have been made today by indian troops across the kali
semampir river stop the opposition was mostly from snipers and
light machine guns stop third battalion of jat regiment crossed
the river at crack of dawn and are pushing forward stop the
booty captured by them so far includes three jeep loads full of
machine guns stop one indonesian officer was careless enough to
drop his sword and in the flash of a second one of the jats picked
it up and slashed the indonesian officer in two stop third battalion
second punjab regiment sent out a
fighting
patrol across the river to the south east and returned with loads
of rifles and machine guns stop they reckon to have killed about
twenty indonesians stop further north mahrattas have also advanced
the east across this river stop on thursday night indonesian activity
was limited to mainly artillery and mortar fire and some sniping
stop they also attacked the first punjabis with three tanks
and were driven away with the aid of our artillery stop a staff car
containing three indonesians wearing civilian clothes and armed with
stens approached our positions and was shot up killing the occupant
stop this morning indonesians attacked madras infantry
near the sea plane base with mortars and machine guns but were quickly
repelled by our troops and artillery stop there has been a large
influx of chinese refugees from the east of kali semampir river
and chinese generally complain of ill treatment by indonesians stop
while in sourabaya before the troubles started eye had noticed that
there was no love lost between the chinese community and the indonesian
extremists who often resorted to third degree methods to enforce the
viewpoint stop most of the muslim troops in our
lines today celebrated the quote id repeat id unquote with festoons
music and feasting stop white quote mufti unquote and
multicoloured handkerchieves marked the centres of celebration in an
area almost entirely jungle green stop story ends note for editor
regret unable yet send story position indian nationals still
collecting information stop ends
Mani
Capt
16/11
5 Ind. Div.
15
PUBLIC RELATIONS SINGAPORE
PUBLIC RELATIONS BATAVIA
FOLLOWING FROM MANI BEGINS SOERABAYA NOVEMBER FIFTEENTH(.)
THERE HAS BEEN A MARKED DECREASE IN ACTIVITY ON THE INDONESIAN
SIDE TODAY IN AREAS OF PREVIOUS RESISTANCE(.) MUCH MOVEMENT
BEHIND THEIR LINES HAS BEEN OBSERVED AND THEY ARE SETTING
FIRE TO GOODS AND WAREHOUSES(.) LAST NIGHT ONE WAREHOUSE
CONTAINING RUBBER CLOTH AND OIL IN THE CHINESE AREA WAS SET ON
FIRE BY THEM AND BLACK CLOUDS OF SMOKE RISING FROM THERE COULD
BE SEEN FOR MILES AROUND(.) INEFFECTIVE SHELLING BY THE INDONESIANS
HAS INCREASED SINCE LAST EVENING(.) ONE OF OUR MOSQUITOES ON
FECONNAISSANCE WAS HIT BY ACKACK FIRE(.) TWO INDONESIAN TANKS
WERE KNOCKED OUT TODAY ONE BY OUR TANKS AND THE OTHER BY OUR
TROOPS(.) MORE REPORTS OF ILL TREATMENT OF CHINESE NATIONALS BY
THE INDONESIANS ARE COMING IN AND A LEADING CHINESE WALKED INTO
OUR LINES TODAY IN HIS PYJAMA SUIT HAVING LOST THE REST(.)
WE ARE GIVING THE CHINESE MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EVERY ASSISTANCE(.)
NOTE FOR EDITOR(.) COLLECTING INFORMATION REGARDING POSITION
BRITISH INDIAN NATIONALS IN TOWN AND SHALL SIGNAL THEM TOMORROW(.)
ENDS.
Mani
Capt
15/11
Mani: Indian Army Observer
For public relations batavia please pass telecomwise
Singapore from mani begins soera baya november fourteenth
stop Indonesians continue to offer stiff
resistance and they are now using mostly automatics and
mortars stop their guns are still active but most of their
shells do not explode and our tanks have knocked out one
of their guns stop quite strong Indonesian resistance
has been A experienced today near the hotel woura baya and the
telegraph office changed hands twice stop sniping on our
left flank continues stop one of our trucks bringing back
wounded was ambushed but our driver accelerated his
vehicle and ran over some of them killing atleast two stop
three jap dead scars bodies were found gear the court of
justice this morning stop Chinese delegates approached
our commander this evening requesting protection to bury
their dead most of whom they say have been killed by the
Indonesians and not by our fire stop Indonesians are
attempting to remove all food from the town and
locomotives carrying food out of the town
have been strafed by our mosquitoes stop ends
Mani: Indian Army Observer
For public relations batavia please pass telecomwise
singapore begins soerabaja november thirteenth stop our troops
have advanced further today against stiff opposition and
occupied the government building stop mopping up in areas
already occupied by us continues and several armed indonesians
found selling vegetables have been shot stop indonesians are
offering stubborn resistance near the kota railway station and
are fighting from concrete pill boxes stop the area cleared by us
includes chinese and arab quarters whose residents have been
all the time confining themselves to their houses and not
taking any part in the fighting stop last night indonesians
attacked our forward lines near hotel sourabaya but were driven
off with heavy casualties stop sniping continues on our left
flank from the east bank of the kali semampir river stop
large number of arms and equipment have been recovered
by our troops while searching areas already occupied by us stop
our casualties today have been extremely light stop compared
to our speed of operations against the japs in burma operations
here seem to be slow apparently with the purpose of
avaiding larger number of casualties stop our own troops regard
these operations more as an uprising that has to be
suppressed than as a war with Indonesians but soerabaya burns
and the sky glows red every night
as Indonesian hotheads continue to bear arms against the allies
stop ends