CALL TO SURRENDER

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23281, 17 August 1945, Page 4

CALL TO SURRENDER

Enemy On Bougainville (R.N.Z.A.F. Official Correspondent). BOUGAINVILLE, August 15.

Messages have been dropped to General Kanda, who commands the Japanese division on Bougainville, instructing him to appoint an envoy to meet the Australian representatives at Movo River ford, South Bougainville, to discuss surrender plans. New Zealanders and Australians are now awaitin the outcome.

The news of Japan’s capitulation was carried to the Japanese forces on Bougainville by five R.A.A.F. Beauforts, which were in the air 15 minutes after receipt of the news, skimming over the jungle at tree-top level with boldly painted symbols on the undersurfaces of the wings telling the Japanese in their own language that their emoire had surrendered to the Allies. Leaflets were dropped at various points ordering them to lay down their arms. At the same time R.A.A.F. Wirraways and Boomeran'--; flew low over the Kara and Kahili airstrips, risking fire from enemy anti-aircraft guns, to drop messages with instructions that they were to be delivered to the nearest headquarters for dispatch to General Kanda. The Australian envoy and official party left Torokina this afternoon in two jeeps for the Movo front, where they will wait the arrival of the Japanese envoy.