CRISIS IN JAPAN

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1944, Page 5

CRISIS IN JAPAN

CABINET'S JUISIGNATION PEACE OVERTURES POSSIBLE NEW YORK, July 19. . The Domei News Agency has announced: “General Tojo’s Cabinet took a resolute step on July 18 and effected the resignation of the entire Cabinet.” The Associated Press of America points out that the announcement was issued on July 20 (Japanese time), and that no explanation has been given for the delay in the announcement by the Japanese Board of Information.

The Domei Agency added: 1 “It has been decided to strengthen the Cabinet by a wider selection of personnel. But utilising all the means available the present Cabinet was not able to achieve its objective. The Government finally decided to renovate its personnel in order to continue to prosecute the war totally. General Tojo presented his resignation to the Emperor Hirohito, after having recognised the fact that it was most appropriate to carry out a total resignation. “To put it straightforwardly, the reason is that the individuality of the Tojo Cabinet was unable to keep up with the intensity of the people’s burning war spirit. General Tojo gathered the resignations of all the members of the Cabinet and presented them to the Emperor on Tuesday, when he was received in audience. At this time of decisive war, to have reached the stage existing to-day is causing the Emperor much concern, wherefore the present Cabinet was filled with trepidation. Apologising tor the Government’s meagre power to the men on the fighting front and to the 100,000,000 people of Japan who continue to work for victory, it has been decided that* the Cabinet should be dissolved for the purpose of assuring the successful prosecution of the war. We anticipate with great anxiety the appearance of a new strong Cabinet without loss of opportunity.” A ■ X X i n The Domei Agency instructed the press in Japanese-occupied areas not lo publish the news of the Cabinet’s resignation. EX-PREMIERS MEET. The Tokio official radio has announced that the Emperor ordered the retiring Minister of Home Affairs, Marquis Koichi Kido, into audience on the same day as the Cabinet resigned. with a view to forming a new Cabinet. The United Press points out that Kido, one of Japan’s senior statesmen, was not a member of the militarist group which placed Tojo m power. Kido has long been close to the Imperial family, and is regarded as a moderate. The Tokio official radio said: Marquis Kido, conscious of the huge re-, sponsibility placed upon him, called a meeting of former Premiers on Tuesday evening to deliberate upon the personnel of the new Cabinet. Those present included Prince . Konoye Baron Hiranuma, Mr. Koki Hirota,Baron Wakatsuki, Admiral Okada General Nobuyuki Abe, Admiral Yonai, and the President of the Privy Council (Mr. Yoshimichi Hara). Based upon the opinions of these men, the prudent, deliberation ended regarding a leader for the succeeding Cabinet.” , . .. The Washington correspondent of the United Press says: “War, Navy, and State Department officials withheld coniment on the resignation oi the Japanese Cabinet, pending further study, but they did not attempt to conceal their pleasure over the news, which is unofficially interpreted as a possible prelude to peace overtures by a Liberal Cabinet. The Chungking correspondent of the United Press says: Informed circles are of opinion that, tne Japanese Cabinet crisis is the lesult 01 military reverses. They say it is possible that the new Government will begin a peace offensive directed against America, and also possible that Japan will surrender even before the collapse of the Germans.

MILITARISTS LOSE CONTROL

(Reed. 10.45 yoRR The announcement that two moderates, Koiso and Yonai, have been 'entrusted with the formation of a new Japanese Government confirms the belief that the extremist military clique which put Tojo in and engineered the Pearl Harbour attack has lost control in Japan, says the United Press.-The move is regarded as the first step towards an ultimate Japanese attempt to win a negotiated peace, though no immediate peace bid is expected. Sources familiar with Japan’s political situation suggest the new Cabinet would attempt to intensify Japan’s war effort, then give way to another Government within a few months as the Allied successes in the Pacific mount. Only when a wholly civilian Government comes into power will Japan really try to withdraw from the war. . The Associated Press points out that Koiso and Yonai are both known as aggressive proponents of Japanese expansion. The designation of the two men to form a new Government in co-operation is unprecedented. It signifies determination to combine all elements of the army and navy in a Government to cope with the acknowledged peril of defeat. The Associated Press Chungking correspondent says the Chinese linked Tojo’s fall to Saipan’s loss. It is also believed that Tojo’s resignation resulted from a feeling among Japanese people that the props under the Empire were becoming insecure. The Chinese hoped a good bombing of Tokio would be staged soon to strengthen such a conviction. There is much speculation whether the change of Government presages a change of strategy whereby the Japanese will concentrate on halting the American advance instead of expending blood and treasure in China. SAIPAN EFFECTS. LONDON, July 20. The capture of Saipan Island threw Japan into an unprecedented crisis, thousands praying at Shinto.. shrines lor victory, workers holding big rallies at munition factories, and some pledging to work seven days a week to increase production. The Tokio official radio’s commentator described Saipan’s fall as a turning point in the war, because the Americans were henseforth in a position to attack the Japanese homeland with heavy bombers. “However,” he said, “our will must not crumble like the flowers from a greenhouse wilting in the cold air. We are facing a very hard struggle, but have still a chance to win. We must remember that Carthage won battle after battle, but the Romans who refused to -fight in unfavourable places finally destroyed the Carthaginian Armies.” NEARLY 20,000 ENEMY DEAD. (Rec. 1.35) WASHINGTON, July 20. More complete reports of the carrier aircraft attack on Guam on Tuesday raised the tonnage of bombs dropped to 401. from the previously announced total of 148, says a Pacific Fleet communique. Widespread heavy damage to military objectives in Guam resulted from co-ordinated aerial bombing and shelling by surface ships. Pagan Island was bombed twice on Monday. Liberators attacked Chichi Jima and Haha Jima in the Bonins on Tuesday. The attacks were made at low level. Eleven seaplanes were

damaged and four coastal . vessels were set on fire by the strafing. At Haha Jima, a small cargo ship was sunk, and several fires started among the buildings on the seaplane base. Our aircraft continue to neutralise enemy defences at Tinian Island. Selected targets are being shelled from the sea by our light surface units. To July 17 our forces in Saipan buried 19,793 enemy dead. Liberators bombed the naval base at Dublon Island and the Truk Atoll on Tuesday. Liberators and other planes continued neutralisation raids on the Marshalls. NEW GUINEA DEVELOPMENTS (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent) SYDNEY, July 20. Repulsed in their initial frontal attack, the Japanese forces trapped in British New Guinea may be trying to escape along the inland trails flanking the American positions. The enemy’s coastal drive was baulked by American opposition along the Driniumor River, 20 miles east of Aitape. On Tuesday American patrols discovered detachments of Japanese attempting to work round the right flank of the Allied perimeter through the foothills of the Torriceli mountains. The crest of this range is 13 miles inland from the coast. Japanese were contacted in rugged country between the range and the American positions. Light skirmishing has occurred. A spokesman at General MacArthur’s headquarters said to-day that this latest movement by troops under General Adachi’s command might be an effort to find a way out of the Allied trap. The Americans hold strategic terrain and are established in depth, so, whatever their object is. the Japanese have little, chance of success. The Japanese force which crossed the Driniumor River and was encircled by the Americans on Tuesday lost 582 killed. Meanwhile, Australian cruisers, together with American and Australian destroyers, again bombarded the en-emy-held coastline between Yakamul and Wewak. They paid particular attention to Japanese headquarters, and the target area was well covered with shells.

MORE SHIPS SUNK

(Rec. 1.35) SYDNEY, July 21 American ground forces in the Aitape sector of British New Guinea are countering the continued Japanese probing efforts. Enemy forces in this sector are still receiving heavy aerial pounding, and are being strafed and bombed along inland trails. Japanese small ships in the Timor area have been sunk, and a large freighter damaged.