OCCUPATION STEP

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 226, 23 August 1945, Page 6

OCCUPATION STEP

3.45 P.M. EDITION

HUGE PLANES READY. Alll TRANSPORT COMMAND. (N.Z. Press Association.— Co "vright ) (Rec. 1.30 p.m.) OKINAWA, Aug. 2 The greatest fleet of fourengined Bkymaster transport planes ever assembled in one field is spread over tiie two square nn'les of the Kadena aerodrome as the Army Transport Command concentrates airliners from all over the. world for an unannounced mission —presumably carrying the Allied occupation troops to Japan. Scores of big silver aircraft parked double-in stand along the service aprons and runways where General Doolittle s Super-l'ortresses were to ( have been based for aerial offensive operations. Each incoming plane brought not only its own five-man crew but another ciew as spares, also five ground foice personnel. There was a sudden concentration of 2600 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 completed. A Domei broadcast announced that various political elements, particularly among Parliamentarians, arc- urging an immediate session of the Diet to formulate emergency measures to meet the new situation as well as a reeonstruciioii programme. It is considered that the' Diet can display to the world Japan’s good faith. If a special session is held the electoral law will be revised, after which a general election will be held to carry out a completely new political plan SEAC SURRENDER PLANS.

The Coinmander-in-Chief, South-East Asia (Lord Mountbatten) is expected to receive the surrender of the. Japanese forces in South-East Asia from General Terauchi at Singapore early in September, says Reuter’s Rangoon correspondent. The Japanese envoys have still not arrived for the surrender negotiations.

The Burma campaign cost the Japanese 128,000 killed, states an official announcement. In the heavy fighting during the break-out, for each Allied soldier killed 150 Japanese fell or were taken prisoner.