JAPAN ADVISED TO SURRENDER

Southland Times, Issue 25690, 5 June 1945, Page 5

JAPAN ADVISED TO SURRENDER

LEAFLETS SHOWERED ON CITIES (Rec. 9 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 3. Super-Fortresses everyday _ are showering Japan’s largest cities with at least 500,000 leaflets, advising and explaining unconditional surrender, says the Guam correspondent of the Associated Press. The carrier plane pilots who swept airfields on southern Kyushu agreed that every returning plane reached the ship either shot up or almost out of petrol. Some came straight aboard without attempting to circle, knowing that if they failed to go in the first time they would not have a second chance. The pilots said that the attacks were made in terrible weather, with the planes sometimes swooping in to within 100 feet of the ground. Tokyo radio said that two Japanese Home Ministry officials, after the inspecting of damage to Yokohama caused by Super Fortresses, urged the evacuation of all but the most essential persons. The officials warned the smaller cities to prepare thoroughly against air raids.

The radio added that enemy spy activity was becoming more and more intense as the war grew in violence. Meeting tire most stubborn interception so far encountered over Singapore, two American bombers shot down or damaged eight out of 12 Japanese fighters on Friday in a 30-minute running fight in which the Americans beat off 25 attacks, says the Manila correspondent of The New York Times. One bomber, with two of four motors shot out and the port wing broken off later, crashed and sank.

“Japan’s entire naval air corps has been converted to suicide planes for use against Allied warships,” says Tokyo radio. “If these tactics are successful, victory is assured for Japan. Otherwise, the Navy will have many heroes for our shrines.”

The radio added: “High Home Ministry officials have been sent throughout Japan to investigate and organize local units of *the National Volunteer Corps, which at first will be equipped with all available weapons for use against the Allied invaders. As soon as production can be increased, the special shortrange effective weapons recently developed will be placed in the hands of all men, women and children. These secret weapons will provide nasty surprises for any of the enemy coming within range.” COMPLETE SURRENDER WANTED U.S. Terms For Japanese NEW YORK, June 3. “Unconditional, unadulterated surrender by Japan is the only peace the United States will consider,” said Admiral W. F. Halsey addressing a Press conference aboard the American 3rd Fleet flagship in the western Pacific. He added: “I don’t think the Japanese have much of a fleet left, but my plans call for knocking hell out of them wherever we find them.”

Asked whether he thought the remnants of the enemy fleet might come out as a gesture, Admiral Halsey replied: “I wish they would, but they have got little left to gesture with.” Admiral Halsey said that the Japanese suicide plane attacks were: “Just a damned nuisance.” Japanese air power was suffering from military cancer, he added.

Admiral Halsey praised the work of the Supei’ Fortresses. He said that they should bomb the Emperor’s palace. “The Emperor represents God in Japan. He should pay for impersonating God.” Tire subject of the punishment of the Japanese war criminals brought forth Admiral Halsey’s finest invective, which, unfortunately, is not quotable—and not for security reasons. Admiral Halsey’s Chief of Staff, RearAdmiral Robert Carney, said that so~ far as the tactical use of air power was concerned, the Japanese were washed up. They avoided combat and heterogeneous air groups failed in aerial operations. Consequently, they had resorted to suicide attacks on Okinawa which had not succeeded. Admiral Halsey made it clear that the 3rd Fleet could now enter all ocean areas with impunity, except the Inland Sea and the Sea of Japan, both of which are exposed to aerial observation also attack from several directions. Admiral Halsey ridiculed the assertion by Admiral Baron Kontaro, the Japanese Prime Minister, that the battle of Okinawa would decide the battle for Japan. “They have been saying that about every battle from the Solomons upwards. There is no more significance in Okinawa than Guadalcanal', except that we are getting closer and closer.”