Threat backed by 'Army'

THE THREAT BACKED BY AN ARMY

"The Turk" Means Trouble to USI
Sends Ultimatum

From DENIS WARNER
Herald Special Correspondent

SINGAPORE, Wednesday.—A private army organised and led by one of East Asia's most astonishing adventure-book characters promises big trouble for the Indonesian Government.

According to a report today from Jakarta quoting the Secretary-General of the USI Information Ministry, Captain Westerling, a former Dutch Army officer known as "The Turk", has issued an ultimatum threatening open war against the Government unless his army is officially recognised by tomorrow.

Indonesians, who would despatch Westerling with the utmost alacrity if they got the chance, will undoubtedly plump for war before recognition, but they will not underestimate the danger of a man who believes he can defy the Government and its armed forces.

There are not many people in Indonesia today prepared to swear that this or that is a fact. But enough responsible people tell enough similar stories about "The Turk" to give some sort of reasonably accurate picture of a man whose name mothers now use to discipline their children.

He was born either in Turkey or Indonesia, of mixed Turkish and Dutch parentage. If he was not born in Indonesia, he came there when young and did not appear much in anyone's records until he turned up in Tobruk during the war, when he served with great gallantry with the commandos.

Later, he returned to Indonesia and served with the Dutch forces in the police actions. In 1946 he commanded a Netherlands force in the Celebes, restoring Dutch rule with a non-legendary severity.

LEFT ARMY

Some time last year Captain Westerling left the Netherlands Army and set up in business as a common carrier.

There is nothing "common" about the way he conducts his business, however.

His fleet of about 40 trucks is the only one which delivers goods in West Java. The trucks swarm with men armed with most types of automatic weapons.

Bandits and other dissidents know it just doesn't pay to attack Westerling's convoys.

With the Chinese merchants, Westerling and his fleet, and his army, which is said to include perhaps 1,000 Eurasians and Indonesians and a few Europeans, are most popular.

With the Indonesian Government—not pleased by Westerling's past record nor by his current "snook-cocking"—he ranks high among the primary targets.

GREAT ARREST

Dutch officials told me that the Indonesians planned Westerling's arrest at Bandoeng a few minutes after the transfer of power ceremonies on December 27.

Westerling heard, and left his headquarters in West Java.

"Anyway, they would never have arrested him," my informant said. "Westerling and his bodyguard are tough men. It isn't fun arresting a man when you know that perhaps half a dozen of the arresting party are certain to be bumped off."

Where Westerling now is, neither the Dutch nor the Indonesians know.

The Dutch wiped him off with the simple statement that he no longer had any association with the Netherlands Army.

It is said that he sometimes goes into Bandoeng or even Jakarta incognito.

A British Intelligence officer, adjudged one of the best-informed men in Indonesia, talked of black aircraft seen by night over West Java, and of unidentified submarines off the coast. He then mentioned Westerling in the same breath.

AIR MISSIONS

The submarines remain unconfirmed, but there is no doubt about the aircraft. They are coming from somewhere on missions that do not mean any good for Indonesia.

Some people in Jakarta speculate on whether they drop arms for the fanatical Darul Islam, who have promised death for all infidels, or for Westerling.

They also speculate, often with a good deal of fear, that Westerling and Darul Islam are now operating in the same area—and apparently without conflict.