TURMOIL AHEAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25287, 22 August 1945, Page 7

TURMOIL AHEAD

SIGNS FROM JAPAN DEFEAT RESENTED * INCIDENTS FEARED MILITARY : CIVILIANS (Herd. 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 20 The Tokyo radio said that a considerable number of Japanese military men resented the surrender. "Some hotheads," it stated, "may allow their emotions to get the better of their judgment. There is no telling what unfortunate incidents may occur, endangering the present delicate situation." The radio qualified the gloomy picture by stating that the Emperor's rescript calling for strict discipline ensured that the. majority of military men would obey the Imperial order. It insisted that even if sporadic outbursts should occur Japan intended to leave nothing undone to enforce strict compliance with the Potsdam terms, which Japan had accepted in all solemnity and good faith. Defeat Not Experienced The Associated Press points out that considerable Japanese military forces remain intact, without experience of actual defeat in battle and with their morale unimpaired. To disarm and disband these units and watch passively while the Allied occupation armies disembark on Japanese soil may be too much for some officers. Beaten on the battlefield, economically crippled and lacking sufficient food for her people, Japan is on the verge of an internal upheaval, judging from Tokyo broadcasts. An apparent fear of a public outbreak is voiced continually. Officials and newspapers are appealing to the people to maintain peace and order. The Minister of Justice, Dr C 11117.0 hvata, told the press that the Allied conquerors might take a hand if local authority failed. He warned Japan that in future she would have to face a considerably different position from that when she was still powerful militarily and financially, because she was now a defeated nation. Warning to Police Sinya Saka, Tokyo's new Chief of Police, warned the force that the postwar maintenance of peace and order would be drastically different from that in wartime. The Nippon Times emphasised the grave difficulties confronting the Cabinet in maintaining general peace and order, and pointed out that the control of the military presented the Prime Minister, Prince Higashi-Kuni, with an even greater problem. Prince Higashi-Kuni, in a nation-wide broadcast over Tokyo radio, urged the Japanese to maintain strict discipline and the utmost equanimity in face of the current situation. He added that the blood flowing through his veins told him that the Emperor's authority was conclusive. Every member of the nation had the responsibility of assisting His Majesty on the basis of equality. RESISTANCE ENDED AIR PATROLS' REPORTS NEW BRITAIN', NEW IRELAND (R.N.Z.A.F. Official War Corrrsponilont.) BOUG AI X VILLK. All if. 20 That the Japanese in New Britain and New Ireland are beginning to celebrate peace can reasonably be assumed from reports of R.N.Z.A.K. reconnaissance aircraft from Jacquinot Hay. The towji of Rahaul, over which New Zealand and American fliers fought the fiercest air battles for nearly two years, lias become a hive of activity. The main street was crowded with vehicles and Japanese waved to aircraft overhead. Many Japanese were swimming unconcernedly. Simpson Harbour, at the top of which Rahaul stands, contained many barges. There were many more at Heravat and Tawui Point. Other evidence that the Japanese have definitelv decided to end resistance were many large and small fires in Japanese-occupied New Britain, camouflage removed from some gun-pits and many troops and vehicles on the roads. No hostile action was apparent anywhere, there was no sign of alarm on the approach of aircraft, and no one took cover. Two R.N.Z.A.K. Venturas I'roni Jacquinot Ray, escorted by four Corsairs. dropped surrender leaflets on Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain, which is occupied by the Japanese. In New Ireland a Ventura patrol reported a prominent white square on the edge of the Horpop Airstrip, but it was later removed. A while object was also seen at Naniatanai, on the east coast of New Ireland. Laden trucks were-syon travelling toward Kavieng and empty vehicles returning south with no effort at concealment . It is estimated that there are 55.000 Japanese in New Britain and 9500 in New Ireland.

RESISTANCE CEASES iMANO 11(11(1 AN FRONT RED ARMY IN KEY TOWNS (Reed. 6.10 p.m.) LONDON, Auk. 21 With Rod Army paratroops taking possession of key towns in Manchuria, all organised resistance appears to have ended and the final Japanese surrender to he a matter of hours, says a correspondent, in Moscow. More than JOO,OOO Japanese have been captured in 24 hours. Paratroops radioed (lie garrisons of Mukden, Harbin, Hsingkiug, and Kirin to he ready to surrender as soon as the main Russian land forces arrive. The Soviet forces were fighting now here yesterday. The Japanese troops in the southern half of Sakhalin Island are surrendering to the Russians.