FRONTS IN MANCHURIA

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22691, 20 August 1945, Page 7

FRONTS IN MANCHURIA

APPEAL TO MACARTHUR (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrurai) NEW YORK, Aug. 17 The Federal Communications Commission picked up a Tokyo broadcast to Manila urgently requesting General MacArthur “to take the proper steps to bring about the immediate cessation ol the Soviet offensive.” It added that Japanese forces in Manchuria were meeting great difficulties in obeying the orders to cease hostilities, because the Russians were still positively carrying on the offensive. The Japanese news agency reports that the commander of the Kwantung Army sent a message to the Soviet Command saying that Japanese aircraft would fly over Manchuria today to effect the swift transmission of the order to cease all military actions and surrender all arms. Ultimatum Sent The Moscow radio says the Russian Commander-in-Chief in the Far East, Marshal Vassilevsky, sent an ultimatum to the Japanese Kwantung Army ordering it to surrender by noon on Monday. Marshal Vassilevsky said: “The headquarters of the Japanese Kwantung Army sent a radio message to the headquarters of the Soviet Far East forces proposing to cease military operations, but saying nothing about the capitulation of the Japanese armed forces in Manchuria. “Moreover, Japanese troops counter-attacked on the Soviet-Jap-anese front. The Soviet Command, therefore, has instructed the Japanese to surrender by mid-day on Monday, the time limit being arranged to enable them to transmit the surrender order to all troops. As soon as the Japanese lay down their arms, the Soviet forces will cease operations.”