ON BOUGAINVILLE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23279, 15 August 1945, Page 5

ON BOUGAINVILLE

Enemy Surrender Reported Confirmation Lacking By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (Rec. 7.55 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 14. There is no official confirmation of the New York radio report that the Japanese on Bougainville have surrendered to the Australians. Army public relations in Melbourne has received no advice of the surrender. The correspondent on Bougainville of the “Sun” tells of plans made to inform about 12,000 Japanese on the island that their country had surrendered. An Australian Beaufort bomber with the words “Japan surrenders” (in Japanese) printed on it will fly over all known or suspected Japanese positions firing verey lights to direct attention to its message. Prompt steps have been taken by the Australian authorities to prevent unnecessary loss of life. During the last 48 hours every effort has been made to inform the Japanese of the impending surrender. Bomber strikes ceased yesterday anti probing patrols were withdrawn, but security patrols are being maintained. An Australian plane flew over the Japanese lines and dropped 18,000 leaflets warning them that in the event of Japan surrendering it would be the duty of their officers to give them full details. They must cease firing and must not engage in any hostile act toward the Australian troops. New Zealand pilots before setting out yesterday on what might be their last raid on Rabaul said: “We will do our best to get rid of the last of our bombs.”