RELUCTANT TO DISARM

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 60, 8 September 1945, Page 7

RELUCTANT TO DISARM

QUIBBLING OVERCOME

(By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.) Rec. 9 a.m. ■■", •■• SINGAPORE, Sept. 7. The Japanese retreating from Singapore'lsland across the Johore causeway showed' reluctance to disarm, to their own military guard under the surrender terms, insisting that Japanese commodities, stores, and civil administration needed protection. Looting has been prevalent in areas heavily populated by Chinese. The Allied authorities warned that it will be punished with death. The British ordered the Japanese to dump their arms by 10 a.m. on September 7 at the causeway, and to evacuate south Johore by 6 p.m. The Japanese civil administration is permitted to remain. The British commander, recognising the danger to the Japanese withdrawing to hostile areas filled with vengeful Chinese and Malayan guerrillas, said that the enemy would be allowed to keep ten rifles for each 100 soldiers. The Japanese quibbled for some time, alternately showing flashes of arrogance and submission. They said they had no reason to accept, but argument was terminated with a -weighted suggestion that they should carry out the surrender as directed. The Japanese claimed that they owned stores where Chinese traditionally monopolised the retail trade, and also said that currency deposited in the post office was Japanese. The broad highway leading to the causeway presented a strange sight, with Japanese and Indian convoys interspersed. Most of the Japanese were on foot, and many were pulling carts. Prisoners watched the motley Japanese procession silently, but burst into cheers when their liberators came in trucks.