Occupation of Japan

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23288, 25 August 1945, Page 5

Occupation of Japan

Rules Of Conduct For People Violence Discountenanced By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (Received 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 24. THE Domei News Agency states that a special session ■* of the Diet has been convened for September 2 and 3 to drive home to the nation the stark reality of Japan’s defeat and to clarify the circumstances leading to the end of the war. The Japanese newspapers demand that the wartime totalitarian party be broken down and replaced by the pre-war multiple party system, closely followed by an election. The Domei Agency announced that the following rules of conduct have been laid down for the occupation: The people must remain calm and not move about while the Japanese forces are withdrawing. No anxiety regarding order need be felt, since the Japanese police and gendarmerie are remaining on duty. The people should disregard childish rumours, and place absolute reliance on the authorities. The people should refrain from individually approaching the occupation troops. When approached by members of the occupation forces, the people should display courtesy. The people should not abandon their homes, and should not become agitated regarding means of travel, as the occupation forces are not taking over transportation facilities indiscriminately. In any event, the people must not resort to fisticuffs or display violence. General Sadamu Shinomura, Supreme Commander of the Japanese forces in North China, has been appointed War Minister, relieving Prince Higashi Kuni of his post.

The Japanese have sent a message to General MacArthur asking what currency was to be used in Japan by the occupation forces. ‘'We hope they will use Bank of Japan notes which we are ready to deliver at Atsugi, Yokohama and Yokosuka.” General MacArthur has granted several Japanese requests to modify the details of the surrender terms, but will probably reject a suggestion that the American forces use Bank of Japan money instead of occupation yen. The main Japanese railways and ferries will continue operation, handling essential civilian traffic and a large share of the Japanese troops evacuating the Tokio occupation area. General MacArthur will excuse voyages by small shins in violation of the surrender terms if the ships are not equioped with wireless. Colonel L. M. Cosgrave is expected to represent Canada at the signing of the Japanese surrender. Colonel Cosgrave will also supervise the repatriation of the Canadian war prisoners. Commenting on Japan’s surrender. "Izvestia” demands the punishment of Japanese war criminals. It states that Japanese leaders have not yet understood the lesson of their crushing defeat. Tire new Japanese Government is not making any radical changes. "Japan is capitulating, but is clearly carrying out the capitulation at a slowed down tempo,” says the paper. Kwantung Army Surrenders Marshal Stalin, in an Order of the Day, announced that the Red Army had occupied the whole of Manchuria. The Kwantung army had ceased resistance. The Japanese garrisons at Port Arthur and Darien were disarmed after unopposed Russian airborne landings. Red Army troops secured Shumushu, the most northerly of the Kurile Islands.

Huge supply dumps have fallen into Russian hands in Manchuria, says Reuter's Moscow correspondent. it appears that the Japanese had stores for millions of soldiers for 10 years. The Soviet military Government is restoring order, and is receiving wholehearted assistance from the Chinese, who are streaming back to their homes from the hills and forests. Most of the Japanese commanders are thoroughly complying with all the Russian demands. The Communist “New China Daily News” declared that the Communist forces in North and Central China had gathered in strength for an all-out offensive, and were marching on key cities. The paper added that Tsingtao was surrounded and street fighting was going on at Tientsin. Wuhu had been entered and other Communists were approaching Wanning and Nanynan. Fourteen officers and 225 men who manned Japanese suicide torpedo-boats until the Allies destroyed all but three were the first group in the Rvukyus to surrender, reports a correspondent at Okinawa. The surrender was made at Aka Island in the Kerama group. The garrison of 25 officers and 250 men are due to surrender on nearby Tokashi Island. It is reported that fighting is still going on in the Balik Papan area in spite of Japanese announcements that the Nipponese troops in Dutch Borneo had accepted the Imperial rescript ending hostilities. Japanese fired on Allied planes dropping leaflets calling upon the Japanese to surrender in the Sambodja area, where a small number of Dutch troops are assisting the Australian patrols. Mercy Mission Allied planes on mercy missions W’ill shower supplies on August 25 on Japan's detention camps containing 30,000 Allied prisoners of war Some camps are believed to be located at Atsugi aerodrome, where the occupation forces will land. The Japanese located many camps near primary military targets in spite of Allied protests, and Allied bombs killed some prisoners. An aerial armada of possibly 350 giant transport planes carrying at least 7500 American troops will' be used for the initial occupation landings on Tuesday. Fighter escorted, the transports will also carry petrol supplies The Osaka radio says that Chinese communists, Chinese Government troops and Russians are ail making unlawful attacks on Japanese troops on the Asiatic mainland. Communists have so far committed .70 of 79 unlawful acts. At present they are moving south in an attempt to expand their footholds on the southern bank of the Yangtse before the Chinese Government troops c:i.e arrive. The Russians in outer Mongolia ignore Japanese attempts to surrender and continue the offensive as previously in their efforts to reach Poking and Tientsin. The Tokio radio broadcast a message to General MacArthu: saying that flic Japanese preparations for the entry of the Allied warships to Japanese waters are meeting with difficulties owing to a heavy typhoon striking the Japanese coast. General MacArthur has approved the clearance of a Japanese relief ship to Marcus Island, but demanded further details before granting the Japanese request for permission to send hospital ships to various Isolated islands. Tlie Tokio radio says the “cease fire” order has now reached all islands.