SURRENDER AT RABAUL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 213, 8 September 1945, Page 5

SURRENDER AT RABAUL

SIGNING ABOARD BRITISH CARRIER, GLORY DOCUMENT OF INTEREST TO N.Z. !■ (Official War Oorreapondent—N.Z.K.FJ Recd. 6 p.m. Aboard H.M.S. Glory at Sea, Sept. 6. A surrender document, vitally interesting to New Zealand, was signed formally at sea outside Blanche Bay, near Rabaul, at 11.30 a.m. to-day, when General Hitshi Imamura, commander of the Japanese South-east Army, was brought by an Australian sloop to the British aircraft-carrier Glory and, in the centre of an impressive parade drawn up on the flight deck, he formally brushed his signature on to the surrender document. Signatory for the Allies was Lieut. General Sturdee, commander of the Ist Australian Army. New Zealand was represented by Air Commodore G. N. Roberts, commander of the New Zealand air task force, and Wing-Commander P. A. Matheson.

General Imamura maintained his look of fixed determination during the ceremony and after he had applied his signature to three copies of the surrender document, he resumed his position of attention. Before signing, Imamura removed his sword and laid it on the table. There was a slight hitch when he requested that Vice Admiral Kusaka. commander of Japanese naval forces in the South-east Pacific, also be asked to sign. After a brief parley. Lieutenant General Sturdee consented. CORSAIRS KEEP VIGILANT WATCH Two Australian sloops lay astern the aircraft-ca: rier during the ceremony and the ships were under vigilant watch from circling Corsairs winch roared over the flight deck as the Japanese party disappeared from view down the aircraft lift to commence the surrender talks. Imamura confirmed the statement previously made to envoys that there was only one New Zealand prisoner of war in Rabun 1 . There were 180 British, seven American and one Australian prisoners of war. Including Indians, Malayans and Chinese, the prisoners of war totalled 8155. He also said that forces under his command totalled 101,400.

After conferring with Japanese staff officers concerning the New Zealand prisoners of war, Air Commodore Roberts and his party boarded a sloop to return to the R.N.Z.A.F. base at Jacquinot Bay, in New Britain. Rabaul will be occupied by Australian troops on Monday. It will be cause for satisfaction among New Zealanders who. in the R.N.Z.A.F. and the 3rd Division, risked their lives in the Pacific that, under the surrender terms signed to-day aboard the Glory, no leniency is being shown the Japanese, writes the R.N.Z.A.F. official war correspondent aboard H.M.S. Amethyst at sea. Imamura was told in no uncertain terms that his forces would be required to comply immediately with orders to disarm. Any Japanese, other than authorised police or guards, found possessing arms or explosives woulu be laible to be shot on sight.

“You will be the sole Japanese authority in this area to whom we will issue official orders, directions and instructions,” Lieutenant-General Sturdee told Imamura. “You are to issue orders immediately to your commanders in New Britain. New Ireland, Bougainville and New Guinea to surrender to my troops in those areas.” Lieut.-General Sturdee’s proclamation said the Japanese would be treated with accommodation and confine-

ment areas as well as do the v.oik ordered in the meantime, as well as that of the Australian forces, Allied prisoners of war and local natives.

After the signing, Imamura thanked Lieut.-General Sturdee for the consideration shown the Japanesa during flie negotiations. Imamura promised to implement Lieut.-General Sturdee’s surrender directive immediately. An earthquake tremor from one of Rabaul’s many active volcanoes shook the Glory as she was steaming to the point of surrender. A violent shudder ran through the ship and ratings were ordered to the damage control station, because it was thought the carrier had run aground. A few minutes later the ship’s public address system broadcas an assurance that no damage had been caused and lhat an earth tremor was responsible. JAPS CAREFULLY WATCHED During ihe surrender ceremony aboard the Glory the Japanese were treated as prisoners of war and given no chance to commit acts of treachery. Throughout the ceremony they were surrounded by guards, armed wi h Tommy-guns. With the exception of General Imamura, who laid his sword on a small table on the flight deck before signing the surrender. the other 15 Japanese in the part.v were disarmed when they boarded the carrier. It was a significant coincidence that the Royal Naval Master-at-Arms, who received their swords, was a survivor of th<> Repulse sink by the Japanese off Malaya. The members of the Japanese A’my were all dressed in clean, khaki uniforms. complete with white shirts, open at the neck, as well as jackboots. with, in most cases, spurs. * The Naval representatives were neatly dressed in white drill uniforms. General Imamura. in some way. reombles Mussolini in build and looks. Te carried himself wi<h strict military nearing, but particularly at the surender table, his hands twitched nervously.

Providing they give 12 hours notice, the Japanese were given permission *o flv an aircraft, pointed red and vhite and specially marked, to New 1 roland and Bougainville, to convey Hie surrender instructions to the comuanders of those areas. Thp New Zealand representative. Kir Commodore Roberts, will attend ‘he surrender ceremony prepared for 'eneral Kanda to be held at Toroina to-morrow.

A three mile parade of American military might through Tokio’s heart beginning within sight of the Emneror’s Palace will m:i:e General MacArthur’s triumphal entry into

Tokio, says an Associated Press correspondent. It will be the first such march of a conqueror in Japan’s long history. Men of the Ist Cavalry Dividon will be fully armed, dressed in nt khaki and will wear steel hel- . els cd field boots. A guard of hon-