Surrender Date Fixed For August 31

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23287, 24 August 1945, Page 5

Surrender Date Fixed For August 31

Ceremony On Battleship Occupation Orders Issued By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (Received 1.1 p.m.) MANILA, August 22. GENERAL MacARTHUR has announced that the " Japanese surrender document will be signed in the Tokio area on August 31. He will land in Japan on August 28. Naval and Marine forces will land at the Yokosuka naval base on the same day. Allied airborne forces will land at the Atsugi aerodrome on August 26. General MacArthur announced that the Japanese surrender will be signed aboard the battleship Missouri in Tokio Bay. A Manila announcement said that Admiral Nimitz will sign the surrender instrument for the United States, Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser for Britain, General Sir Thomas Blarney for Australia, Lieutenant-General Van Oyen for the Netherland East Indies, Lieutenant-General Kuzma Nikolaevech Derevyanko for Russia, General Hsu Yung-chang for China and General Jacques Leclerc for France. The Canadian and New Zealand signers remain to be designated. The Tokio newspapers to-day continued their campaign to smooth the way for the Allied occupation, telling the people they could expect their treatment by the conquerors to reflect exactly the people’s own actions. The “Yomiuri Hochi” pointed out that peace and order were among the chief Allied demands. Accordingly, the manner in which the demand was met would determine largely whether Japan would be able to lay down a basis for national reconstruction. The “Nippon Times,” in a leading article, says: “For Japan’s own good there must be a speedy realisation that the old order was finished. The work of building a new world order must immediately be started. Any lingering adherence to the obsolete and deficient ideas which have been responsible for Japan’s present plight will only intensify and prolong the disaster. Any attempt to fool ourselves regarding the utter decisiveness of our predicament is not only dishonest and cowardly but would actually injure the chances of our recovery.”

Occupation Directives To Japan

The Japanese Government has been ordered to put into effect General MacArthur’s directives at 6 p.m. on August 24. These are: All Japanese aeroplanes must remain on the ground until the Allies notify the Japanese of dispositions. All Japanese merchantmen in Japanese waters must be maintained without damage and must undertake no movement. Vessels at sea must immediately throw overboard all explosives. Coasters of less than 100 tons engaged in civilian supply work are exempt from the no movement order.

All Japanese ships away from Japanese waters must report their positions immediately to the nearest American, British or Soviet radio station and then proceed to the nearest Allied port or one specified by the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet.

Japanese or Japanesecontrolled submarines everywhere will remain surfaced flying a black “pennant and showing lights. Submarines must proceed under instructions to designated ports in the Pacific islands and the Philippines. The safety and well-being of all United Nations prisoners of war and internees must be scrupulously observed. They must be adequately provided with food, shelter, clothing, and medical care. Until General MacArthur takes charge the local delivery of American supplies dropped from the air must be assured. General MacArthur has directed the removal of all mines, minefields, and other obstacles to the safe movement by land, sea and air into Tokio by 6 p.m. on August 25. All navigational aids must be re-established and maintained. The piloting service, also the duties of naval and other personnel concerned in the operation of the ports, must continue. Breechblocks must be removed from all coastal defence, anti-aircraft guns and artillery within the Tokio area. All craft of whatever type in the Tokio Bay area and approaches must be disarmed and immobilised, and

Accommodations, billets and camp area facilities for the Supreme Allied Commander must be provided. The following orders must be executed by 6 a.m. on August 28: The Imperial General Staff must be made available for a conference with the representative of the Supreme Allied Commander at Atsugi aerodrome immediately he arrives and also as may be directed. To ensure safe entry into Tokio Bay a Japanese ship, not later than 8 a.m. on

August 26, must meet the United States naval forces 20 miles, bearing 15 degrees, from Oshima and must lead those forces into Sagami Bay and must provide 12 pilots to conduct certain forces into Tokio Bay as directed by the senior United States naval commander. Allied forces are taking the following general measures by 6 a.m., August 25: (1) United Nations aircraft will conduct day and night surveillance flights over Japan and Japanese-con-trolled areas. (2) Air forces are dropping supplies to United Nations prisoners of war and internees. (3) Naval forces occupying Japanese coastal waters and also Japanese - controlled areas may begin minesweeping unmolested in any of eight specified ports, including Osaka, Tsingtao, Shanghai, Canton, Hong Kong and Singapore.

all weapons in the area of the initial evacuations must be rendered inoperable. The following instructions must be carried out by 6 a.m. on August 27: The Yokosuka base must be prepared for occupation, a possible operation by United States naval forces. All combatant units must be removed from the area of the initial occupation and confined to assigned limits, except all civil police and gendarmerie, who will maintain • order, prevent outbreaks of sniper fire and other overt acts and also prohibit any substantial gathering of the populace. Civil police and gendarmerie will carry only small arms. Personnel at Oshima may remain, but will be disarmed.