MACARTHUR’S ORDERS

Grey River Argus, 24 August 1945, Page 5

MACARTHUR’S ORDERS

OCCUPATION OF JAPAN

Preparation Begun This Week (Rec. 10.5). MANILA, August 22. General MacArthur has announced that the Japanese surrender will be signed aboard the battleship Missouri, in Tokio Bay, on Friday, August 31. August 23. Naval and Marine forces land at Yokosuka naval base the same day. Allied airborne forces land at Atsuki aerodrome on August 26. He is landing in japan on General MacArthur, in his _ orders to j'apan, stated the following instructions must be carried out by six p.m. on Monday next, August 27: The Yokosuka naval base must be prepared for occupation, and for possible operation, by United States naval forces. All combatant units must be removed from the area of the initial occupation and must be confined to assigned limits, except for all of the civil police and the gendarmerie, who will maintain order and prevent outbreaks of sniper fire and other overt acts. Japan also must prohibit any substantial gathering of the populace. The civil police and gendarmerie will carry only small-arms. The personnel at Oshima may remain, but will be disarmed. Accommodations, billets, and camp area facilities for the Allied Supreme Commander must be provided. The following orders must' be executed by six a.m. on Tuesday next, August 28: The Japanese Imperial General Staff must be made available for a conference with a representative of the Allied Supreme Commander at the Atsugi aerodrome immediately that he arrives, and also as may be directed. To ensure a safe entry into Tokio Bay, a Japanese ship, not latei’ than eight a.m. on Sunday next, August 26, must meet United States naval forces at a twenty miles bearing, 15 degrees from Oshima, and must lead those forces into Sagami Bay. Japan must provide twelve pilots to conduct certain forces into Tokio Bay, as directed by the senior United States naval commander. Allied forces will be taking the following general measures by six a.m. on Saturday next, August 25: (1) United Nations’ aircraft will conduct day and night surveillance flights Over Japan, and over Japanese-controlled areas. (2) Air forces will be dropping supplies to United Nations 1 war prisoners and internees. (3) Naval forces occupying Japanese coastal waters, and also Japanese-controlled areas, may begin mine-sweeping unmolested in any of eight specified ports, including Osaka, Tsingtao, Shanghai, Canton, Hong Kong and Singapore.

MACARTHUR’S ORDERS

For Entry of Allied Forces (Rec. 8.55). MANILA, August 22. The Japanese Government is to put into effect General MacArthur’s directives by 6 p.m. on August 24. All Japanese planes must remain on the ground until the Allies notify the Japanese of Allied dispositions. All Japanese merchantmen in Japanese waters must be maintained without damage, and must undertake no movement. Vessels at sea must immediately throw overboard all explosives. Coasters, under 100 tons, engaged in civilian supply work, are exempt from the no movement order. Japanese ships away from Japanese waters must report their positions immediatelv to the nearest American, British or Soviet radio station, and 'then proceed to the nearest Allied port, or one specified by the Commander-in-C'hief of the United States Fleet. Japanese or J'apanese-controlled submarines everywhere will remain surfaced, flying a black pennant, and showing lights. The submarines must proceed under instructions to designated ports in the Pacific Islands and Philippines. General MacArthur has directed the removal of all mines, minefields, and other obstacles to safe movement by land, sea and air into Tokio Bay by 6 p.m. on August 25. All navigational aids must be re-established and maintained. A piloting service, also the duties of naval and other personnel concerned in the operation of ports, must continue. Breech blocks must be removed from all coastal defence, and anti-aircraft guns and artillery within the Tokio area. All craft-, of whatever type in the Tokio Bay area and approaches, must be disarmed and immobilised. All weapons in the area of initial evacuation e must be rendered inoperable. The safetv and well-being of all the United Nations’ war prisoners and internees must- be scruplously observed. and they must be adequately provided with food, shelter, clothing, and medical care, until General MacArthur takes charge. Local delivery of American supplies dropped from the ail' must be assured. The greatest fleet of four-engmed Skymaster transport planes assembled on one field is spread over two square miles of the Kadena aerodrome, on Okinawa, as Armv Transport Command concentrated airliners from afi over the world for an unannounced mission—presumably the carrying of Allied occupation troops to Japan. Scores of big silver aircraft are parked double along the service aprons ' and runways where General Doolittle’s Superfortresses were to be based for aerial offensive operations. Each incoming plane has brought not only its own five-man crew. but ■also another crew and a-half as cpare c . and also five ground force personnel. There has been a sudden concentration of 26C0 fliers, 1000 mechanics. and 150 or more administrative men to be fed, sheltered and supplied. All the Air Transport Command planes are returning to their proper stations and resuming world - services as soon as the mission is comP1 General MacArthur authorised Japanese forces to emnloy to the maximum extent possible, unarmed aircraft marked with red pennants ■for urgent requirements in connection with the execution of the surGUAM, August 22. The U S. Navy announced that the commander of the small Japanese garrison on Mili Island, m the Marshal which was by-passed eighteen mon+hs aeo, surrendered to-day aboard a .United States destroyer-escort. American forces will occupv Mib within a few days. This was the first instance of the capitulation of a bypassed Japanese garrison since the Japanese surrender.