SIGNING OF SURRENDER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 226, 23 August 1945, Page 5

SIGNING OF SURRENDER

CEREMONY ON BATTLESHIP FORMALITIES NEXT WEEK (N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright.) (Rec. 9.50 a.m.) MANILA, Aug. 22. General MacArthur announces that the Japanese surrender document will be signed on the United States battleship Missouri in Tokio Bay on August 31. He will land in Japan on Tuesday and naval and Marine forces will land at the Yokosuka naval base the same day. Allied airborne forces will land at the Atsuki aerodrome on Sunday. The first group of the occupation force will be more than 20,000 strong. The Japanese Government has been ordered to put General MacArthur’s directives into effect by 6 p.m. on Friday. All Japanese aircraft must remain on the ground until the Allies notify the Japanese of the Allied dispositions.

INSTRUCTIONS TO SHIPPING

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. Coastal vessels of less than 100 tons engaged in civilian supply work are exempt from the no-movement order. All Japanese ships away from Japanese waters must report their positions immediately to the nearest American, British or Soviet radio station and then proceed to the nearest Allied port or one specified the Commander-in-Chief of the United States fleet.

Japanese or Japanese-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 the Philippines. The safety and wellbeing of all United Nations prisoners of war and internees mus t be scrupulously observed. They must be adequately provided with food, shelter, clothing and medical care until General MacArthur takes charge. Local delivery of American s upplies dropped from the air must be assured.

General MacArthur has also 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 Saturday. All navigational aids must be re-established and maintained. The piloting service and the duties of naval and other personnel concerned with the operation of the ports must continue. The breech-blocks must be removed from all coastal defence guns, anti-aircraft guns and artillery within the Tokio area. All craft of whatever type in the Tokio Bay area and its approaches must be disarmed and immobilised and all weapons in the area of the initial occupation must be rendered inpperable.

The full power of the American fleet will flank Japan when General MacArthur begin s the occupation. Every available ship will be mustered in a single operation for the first time during the war. Virtually all of the hundreds of transport in the Pacific will be utilised by the first landing groups and these will be c overed by nearly every type of aircraft.