Surrender of Isolated Garrisons Expected

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 191, 14 August 1945, Page 5

Surrender of Isolated Garrisons Expected

(R.N.Z.A.F. Official War Correspondent.) BOUGAINVILLE, August 12. With the approach of the most dramatic and critical phase in the long and bitter Bougainville campaign, the Allies are standing ready for immediate action on receipt of official advice of Japan’s surrender. Headquarters of the second Australian Corps this morning completed elaborate arrangements to achieve the full surrender of the 13,000 enemy troops on this island should Tokio accept the Allies’ terms. The answer to the common question of whether Lieut.-General Kanda’s lit and well-armed troops will surrender to General Savige’s Australian forces upon the cessation of hostilities with Japan is given in the opinion of military observers that the strong Japanese garrisons isolated in the Solomons and Bismarcks will lay down their arms unconditionally if the Tokio war lords submit to the Allied ultimatum.. An R.A.A.F. Wirraway yesterday dropped 18,000 copies of a leaflet telling the enemy that in the event of Japan surrendering to the Allies it would be the responsibility of their officers to instruct them to cease fire. No hostile action must be taken Allied troops, transport or equipment, the message stated, and any breaches would be dealt with in terms of international law. Some 100,000 leaflets announcing Japan’s surrender are already prepared and will be loaded into an R.A.A.F. Beaufort when the news comes and distributed over Bougainville. Painted conspicuously on the Beaufort’s underfuselage in yellow and black are the words “Japan Surrenders” in bold Japanese symbols. The aircraft will make a complete circuit, flying low over enemy positions, and the pilot will fire Verey lights to attract the enemy’s attention.

Meanwhile, the Bougainville war is at a virtual standstill. All air strikes by R.N.Z.A.F. Corsairs are cancelled and Australian front-line activity is limited to security patrols. Similar action is being taken in New Britain where 40,000* Japanese are confined on the Gazelle Peninsula.