MUNITIONS DESTROYED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26198, 8 July 1946, Page 7

MUNITIONS DESTROYED

VAST JAPANESE DUMPS INGENIOUS CONCEALMENT (Official News Service) KRE, July 3. From the beginning of May until June 21 thousands of tons of Japanese ammunition and high explosives from dumps in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force area have been destroyed. Three methods were employed—dumping in the sea, burning and demolition on the site. It is estimated that there are more than 250,000 tons still in the area. The Koyo Akizuki magazine, on the island of Eta Jima, is one of the largest, and contains 70,000 tons of ammunition. It covers two acres.

One interesting dump uncovered in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force area contains 500 torpedoes, complete wifh war-heads and gyroscopes. These are stored in a place which resembled Aladdin’s cave, from which rock had been quarried for hundreds of years. There are great quantities still untouched and areas still to be searched. Vast quantities of Japanese equipment and materials have also been recovered from tunnels in the British area, and only military stores which are not required by the occupation force are being returned tb the Japanese Government for rehabilitation use.