JAPAN DOWN & OUT

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 September 1945, Page 5

JAPAN DOWN & OUT

MACARTHUR’S ESTIMATE retentioiLof emperor WAR INDUSTRIES DESTROYED

YOKOHAMA, September 11. General MacArthur, in a statement, intimated that Japan had been reduced to a fourth-rate nation He said that the complete defeat oi the Japanese Army had been generally overlooked in reports of Japans military disintegration, which had a tendency to stress the tremendous Allied naval and air victories. ‘ Japan will be unable to wage war again within a predictable lulure, he said. “There are three preliminary steps necessary to safeguard Allied interests: —• “(1) The transfer of Allied prisoners of war to safety. “(2) Dispersal of sufficient occupation troops to ensure the utmost security without endangering tne lives of the troops, while at the same time being prepared for any outbreak o: violence. “(3) The complete disarmament, demobilisation, and return to the homeland of all Japanese military personnel, regardless of rank.” The question of the retention of the Emperor Hirohito was dealt with in a manner to leave a distinct impression that General MacArthur is proceeding with full knowledge ano understanding of the Japanese. He explained that the Emperor actually takes on two separate and distinct form's, as a temporal leader and as a pastoral leader. He made it clear that the occupation forces would not lumper with Japan’s religious faith, thus leaving the Emperor as a spiritual leader. On the other hand, possible changes in Hirohito s pastoral leadership were subject to future developments in which there was hope that the Emperor himself would aisplay democratic Liberalism; but lor the immediate present his position was a matter of speculation, in which General MacArthur said he refused to indulge.

> JAPS’ HARD TIMES AHEAD General MacArthur said he was gratified at Japanese obedience, and contrasted it with the situation in Europe. Here, he said, authority was respected by everyone, and all carried out the occupation orders, while in Europe the only leaders whom the people hud ever followed were ol necessity placed in gaols.. Elaborating on mis point General MacArthur said: “The Japanese will have an extremely hard time maintaining lite itself in the coming months, because they are going to be compelled to rehabilitate themselves without hope of assistance, whereas our civilian affairs officers in Germany are already compelled to provide coal and are laced with the necessity of providing other necessities. The Japanese themselves, not the American taxpayers, are going to pay the price of the war here. He expressed the belief that the Japanese would be allowed to maintain sufficient heavy industry to rebuild the nation themselves, but this would be controlled to such an extent that the war industries would be completely wiped out. The destruction of Tokio had convinced him that Japan had not sufficient industry left in this area to build a musket. . “Jaoan’s rise to take the leadership of Oriental trade cannot be prevented, even if it were desirable, but it is clear that the confinement oi Japan to her four main islands will, prevent her reconstitution as a leading Power in the world,' he said. “Never in history was an army dealt such a defeat es the Japanese have suffered. They admittedly had men in great numbers, . but their manpower was ineffective, because the men were in small,. unequipped ."roups, incapable of united action at the spots where they were badly MacArthur is completely unimpressed with the potentialities of the Samurai and feudal systems. He declared that the latter . was doomed to deteriorate, until it left the Japanese nobles holding honoraiy titles, as in Britain. PRESIDENT ADVISES PATIENCE (Rec. 12.25 p.m.) WASHINGTON. September 12. Responding to a question at a Press conference about fears expressed m Australia that the American occupation forces were using a kid glove policy in Japan, the President said that the policy of retaining some of the Japanese overlords in official positions in Korea was dictated by the practical necessities of the theatre commander. He promised that there would be a I change as soon as possible, but did not; specify when. Mr. Truman added that the Government of Japan will be worked , out and if Australians will be a little patient he was convinced that they will be satisfied when the final de'Cisions were made. Asked when the changes will be -made. Mr. Truman said: “Ask MacArthur about that.”

GEN. BLAMEY’S COMMENT (Recd. 11.45 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Sept. 13. “There are no grounds for talk about a ‘kid glove’ policy in relation to the Japanese,” said General Blarney. Those who expected any ladylike handling of the Japanese by the Americans would be disappointed. He added that the articles of surrender stated clearly that Hirohito and his advisers would do as they were told. The only way was to work through Hirohito and his Government. A military government, with all the organisation necessary to administer the affairs of 100,000,000 people —to say nothing of the language difficulties—would not be effective in less than two 'or three years, and it would be beset by rebellion and other difficulties. He had no doubt that the Japanese intended to carry out the terms of the surrender. It was necessary to maintain the organisation of the Japanese Army intact, wherever it existed, even though all its arms and equipment were taken away: otherwise the Allies woulci be dealing with a mob.

eliminating militarists PRINCE KONOYE’S ASSURANCE TOKIO, September 12. “The Japanese Government’s one obiective is the elimination of the military from the social and political life of Japan,” said the Japanese VicePremier (Prince Konove) in an interview. “The world has distrusted Japan because her Government has long been a two-headed dragon, with the regular authorities promising one thing and the military, which is the other head, ordering another. You will see that, with the extra head chopped off, the Japanese Government will henceforth keep its word.” Prince Konove, who was Prime Minister at the time of the “China incident,” disclosed that he and Marshal Chiang Kai-shek would probably have reached agreement, but the Japanese military had physically grabbed Prince Konoye’s personal envoy to Marshal Chiang as he boarded a ship at Kobe, breaking up the peaceful negotiations. Referring to his second period as Prime Minister, in 1941, Prince Konoye said that Mr. Roosevelt had answered when he had proposed

a personal meeting to reach an arnicable settlement of differences. Phen the Japanese military began to put forward all sorts of stipulations. Mr. Roosevelt’s advisers became suspicious and the negotiations broke down.' Ihe .Emperor and 1 and most of the Cabinet were for acceptance of the American terms,” he said. “We would have withdrawn from China, but General To jo, with the backing oi the •military, violently opposed it. 1 had no choice but to withdraw.” He added that General Tojo, who succeeded him as Prime Minister before Pearl Harbour, kept urging the Emperor to go to war, arguing that the embargo was choking Japan which must fight or perish. Prince Konoye claimed that when the Emperor had signed the rescript declaring war he did not know that it would be used as it was used. He still hoped that it would be just a “club” in the negotiations. BLACK DRAGON SOCIETY. TOKIO, September 12. General MacArthur has ordered the dissolution of the Black Dragon Society, and the arrest of seven top members. The Associated Press correspondent at Tokio says: Lieutenant Genera! Homma and his wife are reported to have fled from Tokio to their ancestral home in the picturesque island of Sado, off the north-west Japanese coast. JAP. DEMOBILISATION. (Rec. 10.30 a.rn.) TOKIO. September 12.

• Dome! announced that more than ; 1,000,000 Japanese naval personnel ' have, been discharged, representing two-thirds of the total strength. The I demobilisation of an additional 50,000 is expected on September 15. One hundred thousand will be discharged after the Allies have dispensed with their services. Three hundred thousand overseas will be demobilised after repatriation. PENICILLIN FOR TOJO LONDON, September 12. A commit: cue issued in Yokohama says that : 0,0.<0 units of penicillin have been injected into General Toy?, former war-time Prime Minister of Japan, who yesterday tried to commit suicide by shooting himself. He is not yet out of danger. • General Tojo is lying ashen-faced and tight-lipped in an American evacuation hospital in Yokohama, io which he was removed by an American field hospital, reports the Associated Press correspondent in Tokio. He has been given the same accommodation and treatment as any American .enlisted man. While American Army doctors attempted to save his life in hospital, and pronounced his condition fair, Tojo said: “I am going to die anyway, so don’t go to any trouble over me.” An Army physician said that for a man of his age Tojo had a good chance. He was resting comfortably and not suffering pain.

I U.S.A. BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS. (Rec. 10.25 a.m,) I TOKIO, September 12. I New transfusions of American I blood and penicillin have given To.jo i a good chance to survive. Spurning I the offer of breakfast to-day, Tojo i mumbled thanks for a glass of water. I He expressed thanks for the medical I care. His condition is stated to be very satisfactory. An American sergeant who gave his blood said: “I am doing this so he will ret his just dues and suffer for the 17 months he made me spend in New Guinea.” General MacArthur’s personal physician. Colonel Roger Egeberg, is attending the bedside, and four American nurses are assisting. One remarked: “I didn’t think we would come to this after 40 months overseas.” The Tokio newspaper “Mainichi” says the general masses are clamouring for Tojo’s death. ANOTHER SUICIDE WAR CRIMINALS LIST. (Rec. 10.40 a.m.) TOKIO, September 12. Field Marshal Sugiyama, War Minister in Koiso’s 1944 Cabinet, has committed suicide. A Japanese Cabinet special meeting discussed General MacArthur’s I designation of Tojo’s Cabinet as among those to be taken into custody, says the Associated Press correspondent. Well informed sources said the meeting might presage a purge and that the Premier is reviewing the present Cabinet to determine if all the members are acceptable to the American forces. One Japanese said: We feel that all members of Tojo’s Cabinet should have committed suicide after the fall of Saipan. The general opinion is that Tojo failed to fulfil, obligations of hpnoui' and responsibility in the method by which he attempted to take his own life. A Japanese intellectual said: I hope MacArthur’s list of war criminals is not intended to be complete, because it ignores rnosf of the principal war criminals. It is a question of face for the Americans to catch all the top men of the war. HIROSHIMA DESTRUCTION. (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) | TOKIO, September 12.

American experts returning from Hiroshima reported that the destruction is much greater than expected, but there was no dangerous radio activity lingering in the area. Colonel Stafford Warren said the radio activity casualties resulted from exposure at the instant of the explosion rather than afterwards. He denied the Japanese reports of gases released from the bomb. He said that 68,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged, or 80 to 90 per cent, of the city.

KOREAN SITUATION NEW YORK. September 12. “Sixteen thousand American troops have already landed in Korea. We finished cleaning out the Japanese troops from Seoul on Monday.” said Lieutenant-General Hodge, United States Commander in Korea. The Americans expected to link up with the Russians on Wednesday, he said. Lieutenant-General Hodge estimated there were 300,000 Japanese troops in the American-occupied area of Korea. He said that Kozuki, supreme commmander of the Japanese forces in Korea, had done everything possible to facilitate the American occupation. The Japanese were disarming themselves and were doing a good job. The Americans were supervising and taking over the Japanese arms. They had to leave the Japanese some small arms as a protection against the Koreans. The Americans had to use the Japanese Governmental machine until they could get the Japanese back to Japan, he said. Meanwhile, the Japanese had released political prisoners. The political situation was chaotic, with no central theme except the Koreans’ desire for immediate independence. There were many factions, each claiming the largest re-

presentation and accusing each other of collaboration with the Japanese. “My guess is that the Japanese will return to Korea, or try to, later on, because it is so closely tied up with the Japanese economy. I know the Japanese are playing a cagey game, and the Allied Powers must keep them out of Korea.”

The United Korean Committee in America has issued a statement saying that if Japanese administration in Korea continues it will mean that the United States has lost the war and lost world leadership in the eyes of millions of Asiatic people. Renewed demonstrations broke out in Seoul, Korea, with Koreans protesting against the Japanese officials fceing left in office. The “New York Herald-Tribune” correspondent at Seoul says: “Sullen Japanese police armed with bayonets are still patrolling the streets of the Korean capital. .The situation is full of explosive possibilities. All the hatred accumulated in 40 years of Japanese exploitation has emerged. It is a wonder that so far only a few incidents are reported. The defence of the status quo in Korea on the pretext of military expediency seems invalid. Any confusion that might result from the replacement of the Japanese officials by untrained Koreans would not seriously hamper the occupation units.”

SINGAPORE CEREMONY LARGE AREA SURRENDERED LONDON, September 12. The Supreme Allied Commander in South-east Asia, Admiral Lord Mountbatten, at Singapore, to-day, accepted the formal surrender of all the Japanese forces in the command area. Admiral Mountbatten was accompanied by American, Dutch, French, and Chinese representatives. The Japanese delegation was led by Lieutenant-General Itagaki, who signed the surrender instrument for the Japanese southern armies on behalf of their commander, FieldMarshal Count Terauchi. FieldMarshal Terauchi, who is ill, will make his personal surrender to Admiral Mountbatten as soon as his health permits. Admiral Mountbatten told correspondents that the surrender involved 1,500,000 square miles of territory, with a population of 128,000,000. In this area there were also 128,000 prisoners of war and 140,000 civilian internees.” “Terauchi’s sword is one thing I want out of this war,” said Lord •Mountbatten, when he read the Japanese commander’s telegram. Lord Mountbatten signed 11 copies of the surrender document, using a fresh pen each time. Seven Japanese seated at the table opposite Lord Mountbatten remained silent throughout the ceremony, scarcely moving except when one handed Itagaki a document authorising him to act for Terauchi. The Japanese envoys included Army and Navy officers in khaki uniforms, white open-neck shirts, and jackboots. At either end of the room were arrayed the Allied staff officers in multi-coloured uniforms, local dignitaries, released prisoners of war and internees. The guard of honour inside the chamber was made up of all forces of Southeast Asia Command. ORDER OF THE DAY (Recd. 11.50 a.m.) SINGAPORE, Sept. 12. More than 100,000 Allied troops have been landed at Singapore. Admiral Mountbatten disclosed this at a ceremony at which he accepted the formal surrender of the Japanese forces in South-east. Asia.. He’ read an order of the day in which he said civil governments will be established in the French and Dutch colonies as soon as possible. Referring to Japanese prisoners. Admiral Mountbatten said many ol them had little desire to continue the fight and were only too thankful it was over. This kind of prisoner must be treated humanely. “1 will not tolerate any case of taking it out on the Japanese if they are prepared to be co-operative. It may even be necessary to protect them, perhaps by separating them from fanatics among their countrymen. It is possible there will be hopeless cases who will commit suicide it prevented from behaving arrogantly and insultingly, because these are people who probably can never be re-educated.’ Admiral Mountbatten disclosed that the invasion of Singapore, known as “operation zipper” had been scheduled to occur on September 9, and the landings were carried out as a bloodless exercise at approximately the same points northwest of the city where the invasion was intended. The defences were found to be almost negligible, consisting of a single barbed-wire lence and a few emplacements. “We could have gone ashore with half-a-dozen casualties. The original invasion plans called for seven divisions and also paratroops and commandos, under naval bombardment. ’

RESTORATION PLANS

LONDON, September 12. The Royal Navy is now carrying out plans for the restoration of the Singapore base, begun immediately after the surrender. A secret planning staff has prepared over the last three years for the inevitable le-tUßear-Admiral J. A. V. Morse has taken over the base’s floating docks up to 50,000 tons, built in India m anticipation of damage to the dry dock for which a complete spare "aisson is being constructed. More than a hundred ratings manned a self-contained mobile radio station ready to land within a day of the occupation. Other complete units built and prepared in India, ready to operate instantly, include oil tanks, a pipe line system, water purification plant, and landing craft. The-base will be equipped with laundry, canteen, and cinema, an N.A.A.F.I. air base with cranes, tools, stores, and accommodation hutments. N.A.A.F.I. canteens with mobile bakery and refrigerators, also two frigates fittea in America as floating electric power plants. More than 500 specialist repair ratings and a battalion of. Royal Marines are waiting to move in and restore the port facilities. Rear Admiral Morse has had great experience in the rehabilitation of captured ports from Algiers to Naples, jvhere he created a port able to handle more traffic than New York. Rear-Admiral Morse and his staff, the day after the surrender. of Singapore. were ready to move in.

GERMAN CRITICISM. (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) TOKIO, September 12. The greatest mistake in the Japanese war set-up was that the Army and Navy worked absolutely separately, said the German naval attache, Admiral Paul Wenneker, former commander of the Deutchland. He added that the Army had its own transports and the Navy did not protect them. Japanese naval losses were terrible. Eleven German ships handed over to Japan were all lost. A German auxiliary cruiser reached Japan by steaming southwards of Australia, then boldly steaming between Honolulu and San Francisco, only to be sunk near the mouth of Tokio Bay. Wenneker said he knew nothing of the Pearl Harbour attack until he heard the radio, and then he told the Japanese it was utterly stupid. Germany had a most difficult time in getting the co-operation of the Japanese, who were suspicious of all white people.