EIGHT HUNDRED DUTCH TROOPS SAILED FROM THE HOOK OF HOLLAND ON APR 19 BOUND FOR WEST NEW GUINEA. WITH ANOTHER 700 TROOPS DUE TO LEAVE EARLY NEXT MONTH THEY WILL REINFORCE THE DEFENCES OF THE TERRITORY THREATENED BY INVASION FROM INDONESIA.

THE DEFENCE MINISTER, MR VISSER, MINGLED WITH THE TROOPS IN THE NEW MINUTES BEFORE SAILING TIME AND A LARGE CROWDS OF RELATIVES AND FRIENDS GATHERED ON THE WHARF TO WAVE LAST FAREWELLS TO THE TROOPSHIP "ZUIDERKRUIS". THE TROOPS - MAINLY INFANTRYMEN AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS CREWS - WILL SAIL THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL, PASSING THE DUTCH ISLAND OF CURACAO IN THE CARIBBEAN AND THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, ARRIVING IN HOLLANDIA AT THE END OF MAY.

ALTOGETHER 1500 MARINES HAVE ALREADY BEEN FLOWN TO THE TERRITORY FROM HOLLAND AND REGULAR FLIGHTS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE, BY WAY OF PERU AND TAHITI.

ON APR 19 PRESIDENT SOEKARNO GAVE THE DUTCH A TIME LIMIT OF EIGHT MONTHS TO LEAVE NEW GUINEA AFTER WHICH, HE SAID, INDONESIA MIGHT TO WAR TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE TERRITORY. THE SAME DAY DUTCH TROOPS CAPTURED 45 INDONESIAN INFILTRATORS DISCOVERED ON AN ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF WEST NEW GUINEA.