DECISIVE WEAPON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 227, 24 August 1945, Page 6

DECISIVE WEAPON

ATOMIC BOMB ENDED WAR. JAPANESE BARON’S BELIEF. (N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright.) (ILN.Z.A.F. Official War Correspondent.) (2.5 p.m.) BOUGAINVILLE, Aug. 23 The atomic bomb decided tho course of the war, a Japanese Baron told an Australian envoy

who yesterday penetrated the heart of the enemy territory to convey a message from General Savige to

General Kanda

Baron Nischimo, a. lieutenant in General Kanda’s army, who met the Australian party at th 6 Mivo River ford and conducted them to General Kanda’s headquarters at Maika, in Southern Bougainville, said the Japanese would have continued to resist but for tlie atomic bomb. The envoy and his party were entertained to lunch by Japanese staff officers and after a short discussion they returned to Torokina today. Hundreds of Japaneso troops along the Buin Road watched them pass through to Maika, their faces registering a variety of emotions from curiosity and relief to open hostility. The Australians were not taken to

General Kanda’s actual headquarters, but, under an awning in a clearing, they met General Kanda and his Chief of Staff (Major-General Maga). Both wore polished jackboots and a_ field ceremonial uniform. General Kanda, slight, clean-shaven and about sft Sin, looked frail and ill. He said little, preferring to leave the formalities to iiis deputy. _ General Kanda indicated that, although lie had ended hostilities on the island, he was unable to surrender formally until similar action was taken at Tokio. The Australian party was received with courtesv and the Japanese officers appeared quite willing to talk freely on other subjects. Later, Baron

Nischimo, who worked in an American hank in the Philippines for 12 years, showed the party his Samurai sword with a solid gold hilt. He said it had been in his family for 300 years The Bougainville climate had rusted this prize somewhat. Another officer surprised the party hy asking it Australia would get her independence after the interpreter claimed that General kanda still bad 20.000 troops on Bougainville. The original force on the island was 60,000, but casualties, m eluding deaths from sickness and disease, had depleted the forces at the rate of 1000 a month. He said there were about 100.000 oiiomv trooos on the Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain, and 200 Japanese women. This is more than double the Allies’ estimate and R.N.Z.A.F. and Australian Intelligence officers, treat those figures with reserve. They are inclined to think that the Japanese officers in the south may he unaware of the heavy losses suffered hy the enemy in other parts of the island as a result of the recent heavy Corsair raids and Australian ground offensives. An unexpected sense of humour was shown and an unconscious tribute paid to the work of New Zealand fighter pilots when Baron Nischimo apologised for tho state of the road along which the party was travelling. Pointing to the bomb craters and pitted highway which made n,anv detours necessary, lie remarked, “It is all vour own fault, you know.”