BACK TO SINGAPORE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25288, 23 August 1945, Page 5

BACK TO SINGAPORE

AUSTRALIAN PLANS 'battalion of paratroops (Reed- 7.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, Aug. 22 A paratroop battalion of 1000 men will represent Australia at the handing over of Singapore, said the Minister of the Army, Mr F. M. Forde, today. This force is apart from the two Australian brigades to share in the occupation of Japan. Mr Forde said the men had been specially trained in parachute work and were now stationed in the north of Queensland. The brigades of the A.I.F. who would take part in the occupation of Japan would be sent in the smartest and best available type of Australian uniform. SOUTH-EAST ASIA AREA EMISSARIES * AWAITED (Kccrl. 11.30 p.m.) RANGOON, Aug. 22 The surrender envoys, who are expected hourly from Field-Marshal Terauchi, commander of the Japanese Southern Army, had not arrived by midday. local time. There is no relaxation of British defensive measures. Lieutenant-General F. A. M. Browning, Admiral Mountbatten's Chief of Staff, is expected to conduct the initial surrender negotiations at Rangoon. Treachery and trickery will be dealt with by the firing squad.

Admiral Mountbatten is expected to receive t/fle surrender of the Japanese forces in South-east Asia in Singapore early next month. So far, % however, he does not know when the Japanese envoys will arrivo at Rangoon to start negotiations. Leaflets are still being, showered on the Japanese in Burma, but correspondents say it is proving very difficult to get in touch with the enemy. The latest prisoners bad no idea tliat the war was over.