Jap Gestapo Trying To Join Civil Police

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1945, Page 5

Jap Gestapo Trying To Join Civil Police

TOKIO, December 20

Although General MacArthur dissolved the Kempeitai (Japanese Gestapo) in September, former members are trying to infiltrate the ranks of the civil police, whose officials are reported to be “taking care of old pals,” says the New York “Herald Tribune’s” correspondent.

Brigadier-General Thorpe said that eventually all former members of the Kempeitai must be remoevd from the police force. There was no use in their just changing their hats. Meanwhile the finding of hidden arms is becoming more frequent. While Japanese officials have continued to emphasise the growing gravity of the impending food crisis, the occupation authorities have forbidden American troops to eat Japanese food. All eating places serving food from Japanese sources have been placed out of bounds. Clubs and messGa have been ordered to obtain fopd only from Allied sources.

The order says this action was taken to prevent possible civil unrest and undue interference with the occupation mission.

Official Japanese figures show that rice collections are only 11 per cent, of the total assessment.