JAPAN WELL BEATEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 215, 11 September 1945, Page 3

JAPAN WELL BEATEN

N.Z. AIR CHIEF'S OPINION

DEVASTATION IN CITIES

P.A. WELLINGTON, Monday. Air Vice Marshal L, M. Isittj Chief of the Air Staff, who has returned by air, 40. hours' flying time, from Tokyo, spoke to-day of the amazing bomb damage done in Yokohama and Tokyo, over which he flew. Hundreds of acres have been devastated, but the centre of Tokyo and the Emperor's palace appeared all right. He had only a brief trip outside occupied territory, but saw enough to convince him that Japan had been thoroughly beaten.

"They were beaten without atomic bombs," Air Vice Marshal Isitt said. "The Japanese civilians we saw showed no emotion, one way or the other. They were just as interested in us as we were in them. The people were in reasonably good condition, but obviously very poor." Although the occupation had gone very smoothly without any incidents, the job would be a long and difficult one. . Referring to the condition of liberated prisoners, he said 80 per cent of them were in a serious condition from malnutrition, but they were excited and in such high spirits that their real condition was somewhat hidden. Air Vice Marshal Isitt was New Zealand's representative at the surrender ceremony.