BURMA SILENCE ENDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 227, 24 August 1945, Page 5

BURMA SILENCE ENDS

ENVOYS DUE IN RANGOON

SURRENDER ON LUZON

(N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright.) (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) RANGOON, Aug. 23 Lieut.-General Kimura, commander of the Japanese forces in Burma, confirmed the “Cease Fire” order in a message to the Allied commanders at 10.30 a.m. local time. This is the first direct communication from the Japanese in this area. General Ivimura’s message said that owing to broken communications he was unable to give a guarantee that his instructions had reached the remotest formations. Consequently he was not prepared to accept responsibility for their action. He proposed that Allied soldiers should “feel” the sectors with which he was unable to make contact by radio. It was later announced in Rangoon, says another report, that Japanese surrender envoys are due in Rangoon on Sunday. The surrender of several thousand Japanese mountain troops in Northern Luzon was arranged yesterday for Tuesday next, says the Associated Press’s correspondent. A worn copy of the United States army newspaper containing Japan’s surrender con vinced the Japanese that the war was over. Beneath’ a Japanese battle flag American and Japanese officers discussed the capitulation terms while soldiers traded pistols, sabres, and watches for souvenirs. The commafider of the small Japanese garrison on Mili Island, in the Marshalls, by-passed 18 months ago surrendered today aboard a United States destroyer-escort. American forces will occupy Mili within, a few days. It is the first instance of the capitulation of a by-passed garrison since the Japanese surrender. The Japanese have asked for General MacArthur’s permission to send food to their starving garrison on Marcus Island.