JAPANESE CELEBRATE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 225, 22 August 1945, Page 5

JAPANESE CELEBRATE

INDICATIONS AT RABAUL. CAMOUFLAGE DTSPPEARS. (R.N.Z.A.F. Official War Correspondent.) (9.30 a.m.) BOUGAINVILLE, Aug. 21 That the Japanese on New Britain and New Ireland are beginning to celebrate peace can reasonably be assumed from reports made by crews of R.N.Z.A.F. reconnaissance aircraft flying from Jacquinot Bay. The town of Rabaul, over which New Zealand fighters along with United States fliers fought thenfiercest fights for nearly two years, has become a hive of activity. The main street was crowded with vehicles and Japanese waved to aircraft which flew along the coast. Many Japanese were swimming unconcernedly. Simpson Harbour, at the top of which Rabaul stands as a shattered example of aerial warfare, contained many barges and many more were at Keravat and Tawui Point. . Other evidence that the Japanese have decided definitely to end resistance is given by the fact that there were many large and small fires in the Japanese-occupied area of New Britain. The dying stage of an oil fire was seen to the south of Tunnel Road, near Rabaul. and there; was also a large fire with white smoke on the west end of Lakanui. GUN PITS EXPOSED. Camouflage lias been removed from some of the gun pits, and there have been very large numbers'of troops and supply vehicles on New Britain roads. No hostile action was apparent anywhere. There was no sign of alarm on the approach of the aircraft, and no one took cover. Two R.N.Z.A.F. Venturas based on Jacquinot Bay, escorted by four Corsairs, dropped surrender leaflets on Gazelle Peninsula, which is the part of New Britain occupied by the Japanese. Yesterday the Venturas dropped an additional 84.000 leaflets over- a wide area, pinpointing the Japanese commander's headquarters at Tunnel Road.

In New Ireland, a Ventura patrol reported that there was a prominent white square on the edge of the strip at Borpop, but it has since been removed. A white object was seen also at Namatanai, on the east coast of New Ireland. Laden trucks were seen travelling toward Kavieng, and empty vehicles were returning south. There was no effort at concealment. It is estimated that there are 55,000 Japanese on New Britain and 9500 on New Ireland.