OCCUPATION PLANS
SWIFT MOVE EXPECTED. MANY DIFFICULTIES AHEAD (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) (11.25 a.m.j NEW YORK, Aug. 19. General MacArthur’s curt message informing Tokio that his directions must bo complied with without delay ended Japanese quibbling and delays, but the world must still wait 48 hours before tbe date of entry of Allied troops on Japanese soil can be ascertained, says tbe New York Times correspondent in Manila. However, plans for troop movements have been virtually completed. General MacArthur will probably move swiftly once he is assured that Japanese aerodrome and harbour facilities are ready to handle the troops. A military expert just returned from the Pacific said the Americans would probably make occupation landings on a wide front on Honshu and Kyushu and possibly simultaneously in Korea. He pointed out that many obstacles and difficulties will hamper the occupation, including mined coastal waters, damaged docks, airfields and communication systems, as well as lack of adequate camp sites and buildings for the storage of supplies and the billeting of troops. Transport is expected to be difficult because of the narrow and poorly built roads and .nar-row-gauge railways. In addition water supply and sanitary facilities will probably be inadequate and food shortages may require the importing of supplies for civilians as well as troops. . . Rev Floyd Roberts, a missionary who spent 14 years in Nagoya, said he lived in the same street as Prince Hi-gushi-Ivuni, who was ‘‘a hard-boiled heavy-drinking character and a disciplinarian who will be very impatient with Japanese military stulfcd shirts.” The Dome! News Agency says undoubtedly there will be an immediate demand on the Homo Ministry' .to strengthen tbe police administration which will in future maintain peace and order instead of tbe army. The Christian Science Monitor, in an editorial, says: “Those who have seen in Japan’s dilatory surrender tactics evidence of Oriental guile overlook a much more obvious explanation Japanese confusion at the top is probably greater than among the forces in the field. Not only has Japan suffered a crushing military defeat but also her whole system of beliefs and values has been shattered. AVe are now probably witnessing the disintegration of' a whole war machine more chaotic than Germany because the Japanese never would believe that such a thing was possible.” IMPRESSING JAPANESE. The New York Times, in an editorial, says: “This Japanese procrastination does not have the same significance but is reminiscent of the endless Kurusu-Nomura talks at W ashington preceding Pearl Harbour. It is apparently designed to save face for the Emperor and to support the thesis given in the Imperial rescript that Japan was surrendering not because she was defeated militarily, but because she wanted to save the world from further bloodshed. “When we enter Japan we must go with sufficient force to impress all the Tojos and Yamamotos that they really did lose the war and are not going to be allowed to scheme and prepare for the next. “We have suffered so much from Japanese double-dealing that it is difficult to view calmly the present antics of the Emperor and liis advisers. One of the first lessons that should be written into Japan’s text books is on honestly abiding by the pledged word.!’
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Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 223, 20 August 1945, Page 5
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533OCCUPATION PLANS Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 223, 20 August 1945, Page 5
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