AMERICA HAILS VICTORY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23280, 16 August 1945, Page 5

AMERICA HAILS VICTORY

President Truman made the historic announcement of Japan’s surrender to a large crowd of reporters who had been virtually living at the White House for day's in anticipation of such developments.

When the thousands of spectators, who waited patiently in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House, began to chant, “We want Truman,” the President appeared on the steps with his wife. Surrounded by Secret Service men, Mr and Mrs Truman walked across to the high iron fence fronting Pennsylvania Avenue. There Mr Truman waved and smiled to the crowd. As the throng continued cheering, Mr and Mrs Truman returned to the White House porch, where the President spoke through a hastily set up microphone: “This is the great day we have been looking for since December 7, 1941,” he said. “This is the day when Fascism and police government cease in the world. This is the day for democracies. This is the day when we can start on our real task, the implementation of free government in thewc-’ld. We are faced with the greatest task we have ever faced. The emergency is as great as it was on December 7, 1941. It is going to take the help of all you to do it. I know we are going going to do it.” Washington, throughout the day, had been quiet, even suspicious, but promptly at 7 p.m„ the national capital blew off the lid in wild victory celebrations with blaring motor horns, the explosion of long-hoarded fireworks, the fluttering of paper from windows, and dancing in the streets. The gathering swelled tike magic and the happy crowds let themselves go in unrestrained joy. Until 7 p.m. New York City, for the most part, held itself in. The people went about their business normally. The official news of the Japanese surrender almost instantly transformed the Broadway area into a roaring, rising spectacle of elation. Times Square, the mecca of extraverts and the nucleus of every big spontaneous demonstration in the world’s biggest city, was ready waiting with a crowd of 500,000 persons who boiled over with frantic madness the moment the announcement came.

New Yorkers decided, after the issue of the first flash of Japanesse acceptance, that it was the real thing. The crowds flocked to Times Square after dawn, and by 8.30 a milling, cheering mass was watching bulletins flashed from the “New York Times” electric board. Scores piled on trucks honked their way through the choked streets having flags, ringing handbells, blowing horns and swinging rattles. The air was full of confetti, tickertape, streamers and torn-up newspapers. The police, out in strength, concentrated mainly on keeping people from crushing windows by the sheer weight of the jostling. The yelling crowd in Times Square passed the 100,000 mark by midmorning and torn paper covered the streets ankle deep. Fireworks exploded overhead in Chinatown as joyful residents brought out a ceremonial paper dragon to symbolise the advent of peace.

Cnurches were thronged with worshippers and new draftees listened to the city's din at the main induction centre. Military service is still a thing of the future for them. The police received complaints from some sections that paving blocks and other missiles were hurled through store windows. One crowd quickly emptied a novelty shop’s window of confetti and noisemakers.

By the afternoon police barriers blocked off the Times Square area wherein, it was estimated. 150.000 swirled about, their spirits undimmed by the uncertainties raised by messages from Switzerland. Absenteeism closed more than 100 coalmines in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and more than 20,000 Ford employees left work in the River Rouge plant. Liquor stores in Ohio are closed indefinitely. Unparalleled Scenes By 10 p.m. the chief inspector of police estimated that 200.000 people were congregated in the Times Square area, constituting an all time record. When the magic words, “Offi-

cial: Truman announces Japanese surrender,” flashed on the moving electric sign on the tower of the “New York Times,’” it touched off an unparalleled demonstration. The crowds went mad in an ecstasy of jubiliation. Men and women embrased. There were no strangers in New York to-night. Some were hilarious, but many wept softly. Church bells pealed and some reverently recalling the Psalmist’s words: “This is the day which the Lord hath made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” St. Patrick's Cathedral was thronged when 2500 persons attended a victory Mass one hour after the announcement. The Mayor (Mr H. F. La Guardia) named next Sunday as world peace dav for thanksgiving to God for complete victory. All over the city and throughout the nation the reaction was the same. In towns and suburbs many thousands started impromptu parades, sang and danced. Hirohito was

hanged in effigy on many electric light poles. Everywhere there was tumultuous noise and frantic flag waving, almost every vehicle displaying Old Glory. , , . . In New York the Chinese celebrated with the sacred dragon dance. Simultaneously all Canada reacted equally enthusiastically from Halifax to Vancouver. „ Mr Truman granted Government employees throughout the country Wednesday and Thursday as holidays. He announced that the Selective Service was taking immediate steps to slash inductions from 80.000 to 50.000 a month. Henceforth only men under 26 will be drafted. Mr Truman said the reduction to 50 000 a month would provide only sufficient men to support the forces required for occupational duty and also to permit the relief of long servicemen. Air and sea transportation should make it possible to release from the army 5.000,000 to 5.500,000 men in the next 12 to 18 months. It was too early to propose definite figures for the occupation forces which would be required in the Pacific 12 months from now or what reduction will be possible in the army forces occupying Europe. It was apparent that we can release as many as could be brought home by the means available during the next year.