TO SIGN ON AUGUST 31

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1945, Page 5

TO SIGN ON AUGUST 31

MacArthur Is To Go Ashore Next luesday

MANILA, August 22. GENERAL MacARTHUR ANNOUNCED THAT THE JAPANU ESE SURRENDER DOCUMENT WOULD BE SIGNED IN THE TOKIO AREA ON AUGUST 31. He was landing in Japan on August 28. Naval and Marine forces would land at Yokosuka naval base on the same day. Allied airborne forces would land at Atsugi aerodrome on Sunday, The Japanese Government had been ordered to put into effect General MacArthur’s directives at'6 p.m. on Friday. All Japanese planes must remain on the ground until the Allies notify the Japanese of Allied dispositions. 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. Coasters of under 100 tons engaged in civilian supply work are exempt from the no movement order. Ail 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 by 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. Submarines must proceed under instructions to designated ports in Pacific islands, or the Philippines. v The safety and well-being of all United Nations’ war prisoners and internees must be scrupulously observed, and they must be adequately provided with food, shelter, clothing and medical care until General MacArthur takes charge. Local delivery of American supplies dropped from the air must be assured. General MacArthur directed the removal of all mines, minefields and other obstacles to the safe movement by land, sea or air into Tokio Bay by 6 p.m. on Saturday. All navigational aids must be re-established and maintained. The piloting service, also the duties of naval and other personnel concerned in the operation of ports must continue. Breechblocks must be removed from all coastal defence and anti-aircraft guns and artillery within the Tokio area. All craft of whatever type in the Tokio Bay area and approaches must be disarmed and immobilised. All weapons in the area oi the initial evacuations must be rendered inoperable.

Great Allied Fleet. Military circles in Washington, commenting on the Japanese statement that_the Allied occupation will begin on Sunday, say the airborne troops who are to land on that day near Tokio will secure beachheads, supply ports and naval bases for the main Allied forces. These landings, and the main landings, said by the Japanese to be due on Tuesday, will be covered by the guns of the Allied Fleet, which is to sail into Tokio Bay as the airborne men begin to come down on the Tokio airfield.

The full power of the American Fleet will flank Japan when General MacArthur begins his occupation, says a Manila message. Every available ship will be mustered In a single operation for the first time during the war. Virtually all of the hundreds of transport ’planes in the Pacific will be utilised by the first landing groups. These will be covered by nearly every type of aircraft. The operation may eclipse the landing on Luzon, in the Philippines, when 06,000 troops went ashore on the first day. A correspondent in the British battleship Duke of York says the British warships with the United States Fleet have already taken up special dispositions ready for the entry into Japanese home waters. Philippines Government. General MacArthur announced that his Command was discontinuing participation in the Philippines administration on September 1. because it was no longer necessary. The. Associated Press says all army hospitals and health services will be handed over to the Philippines Government fully equipped and staffed. Schools have been re-opened for hundreds of thousands of students. The United States Army is expected to continue building major bases, which it will hold after independence. Large numbers of personnel will remain in the Philippines, particularly servicemen for handling supplies for the occupation forces throughout Asia.