AT 6:30 A.M. (I.S.T.) TODAY PRIME MINISTER ATTLEE IN LONDON AND PRESIDENT TRUMAN IN WASHINGTON SIMULTANEOUSLY ANNOUNCED THAT JAPAN HAS SURRENDERED.   ALLIED ARMED FORCES HAVE ALREADY BEEN ORDERED TO SUSPEND OFFENSIVE ACTION.

President Truman has ordered Mr. Byrnes, Secretary of State, to transmit to Japan through Switzerland an order for prompt halting of fighting by the Japanese forces on all fronts.

American and British air and land forces are now expected to proceed at once to occupy strategic points in Japan, says Reuter's Pacific commentator.

Gen. MacArthur who has been designated Supreme Commander of Allied forces and empowered to act for U.S.A., Britain, China and Russia, gave his first orders to Japan. The Japanese Government was told by wireless to cease hostilities immediately and send a representative to the United States Headquarters at Manila.   The Japanese news Agency announces that the Cabinet of baron Suzuki, the Japanese Premier, has resigned. Baron Suzuki has, however, been asked by the Emperor to carry on.

A Tokyo broadcast to "the fighting fronts" said today: "We have lost, but this is temporary."

Gen. MacArthur in his last communiqué to Japan has ordered the Japanese Government and the Imperial General Staff to put a radio station at his continuous disposal for communication of his orders to Japan, states a Manila message.   The Japanese are directed to send emissaries at once to Gen. MacArthur with information of the disposition of Japanese forces and commanders.   All military precautions will be taken to prevent acts of terrorism by any recalcitrant Japanese troops in the course of their withdrawal to specified areas selected by Allied commanders. The ships of the Royal Navy and the U.S. Fleet will enter the main Japanese ports as soon as they have been cleared of mines.   A large number of Allied war prisoners will be speedily released and repatriated.   For eight years, Japan in the longest war of this century has been fighting China. For four years since the unheralded attack on Pearl Harbor, she has faced the united power of America and Britain. Today, the nation which by its invasion of Manchuria in1931 defied the League of Nations and set the race of Axis aggression, is the last of the Axis powers to succumb and the only one of the three to prefer surrender to invasion.

NEW YORK, AUG. 15 - EMPEROR HIROHITO SPEAKING DIRECT TO THE JAPANESE NATION BY RADIO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE NATION'S HISTORY TODAY TOLD THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN THAT THE POTSDAM ULTIMATUM HAS BEEN ACCEPTED.

The Emperor said that it was according to the dictates of the time and fate that they had resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all generations to come by enduring the unavoidable and suffering what was insufferable.

Hirohito, however, warned the Japanese against any outbursts of emotion which might create confusion, lead the nation astray and deprive them of the world's confidence. He exhorted the people to organize their total strength for future construction.   "The enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which, to do damage, is indeed incalculable, taking toll of many innocent lives," the Mikado said explaining the situation.   "If we continue to fight, it would not only result in the ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization," the Emperor added.   The following is from the Emperor's statement:   "To our good and loyal subjects: After pondering deeply on the general trend of the world and actual conditions obtaining in our Empire today, we have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure.   "We have ordered our Government to communicate to the Governments of the U.S., Britain, China and the Soviet Union that our Empire accepts the provisions of their joint declarations."

TRUMAN HAILS THE "GREAT DAY"   WASHINGTON, AUG. 15 - Appearing in front of the White House in response to the clamorous shouts from a crowd, President Truman declared through a microphone set on the portico:   "This is a great day. This is the day we have been waiting for since Pearl Harbor. This is the day when fascism finally dies as we all knew it would.   "This is the day for democracy. But our real task lies ahead - the implementation of free government throughout the world."   The President warned, "We are faced with the greatest task in our life - the task of ensuring peace. But I know we will do it too," he added.

CEASE FIRE ORDER BY NIMITZ   GUAM, AUG. 15 - Adm. Nimitz announces that orders have been issued to the American Pacific Fleet and other forces under his command to cease offensive operations, radios Reuter's special correspondent at Pacific Fleet Headquarters. - Reuter. Sino-Soviet Treaty Signed   MOSCOW, AUG. 15 - A treaty of Friendship and Alliance has been signed between the Soviet Union and China. - Reuter.

FIGHTING CONTINUES ON RUSSIAN FRONT   LONDON, AUG. 15 - A Moscow radio broadcast quoted a statement by Gen. Antonov, Soviet Chief of Staff, as saying that "fighting still continues."   Gen. Antonov said: "Fighting will continue until the Japanese actually lay down their arms."   Today's Soviet communiqué reported further advances by Soviet troops in the Far East. Japanese resistance was encountered. - Reuter.

Events That Led To Final Jap Crash

  LONDON, AUG. 15 - A series of sudden and swift developments crammed into a period of three weeks, heralded Japan's defeat, says Reuter's commentator.
  The three-power ultimatum - "Surrender or be destroyed" - was issued on July 26.
  On July 27 the Japanese News Agency reported "authoritatively" that the Japanese Government would ignore the ultimatum.
  August 5 - The first atom bomb; August 8 - Russia declares war; August 9 - Second atom bomb.
  August 10 - A Tokyo broadcast announced that the Japanese Government was ready to accept the Potsdam Declaration provided the Emperor's sovereignty remained intact.
  August 12 - The Allied reply to this offer was sent to Japan stating that the Emperor must be subject to the Allied Commander-in-Chief.
  August 14 - The Japanese News Agency announced that an Imperial message accepting the Allied declaration would be forthcoming soon. - Reuter.


Jap War Minister Commits Suicide

  LONDON, AUG. 15 - The Japanese War Minister, Korechika Anami, committed suicide last night.
  It is added that this is the first suicide reported after the news of Japan's surrender.
  The Agency said, Anami committed suicide "for his failure in accomplishing his duties as His Majesty's subject." - Reuter.


CHINA MAY BE THE FIELD OF INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE

---

ANXIETY OVER THE FUTURE OF MANCHURIA
AND HONG KONG

  WASHINGTON, AUG. 15 - Quick Allied moves to prevent internal trouble in China may be expected, but in addition, equally deep Chinese issues having international significance cry for attention. Outstanding are Manchuria and Hong Kong.
  There have been suggestions in certain American quarters that both Manchuria and Hong Kong should be integral parts of China.
  The unsettled situation regarding these two may create a setting for international intrigue in China and render difficult the achievement of permanent peace in the Pacific.
  Russia is in an unknown quantity in the huge northeast Chinese empire, while Britain's possible aspirations for Hong Kong are awaited with interest by other nations.
  At the Cairo Conference in 1943, President Roosevelt, Premier Churchill and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek proclaimed that territories wrested from China were to be returned to her. Manchuria and Formosa were specially mentioned.
  Russia was not a participant in the Cairo Conference, but it nevertheless is the nation that can exert most influence on Manchuria. It is widely believed that Russia will demand restoration of her once-held privileges in northeast China.
  Russia has not yet declared her intentions in this respect but reports from Moscow say the Chinese Premier, Dr. T. V. Soong, may be obtaining an understanding from Generalissimo Stalin that Russia will not recognize the Chinese communists in return for which Dr. Soong will try to get his Government's approval for recognition of the independence of the Mongolian Republic. This area is already under Russian influence and presumably would include a large portion of Mongolia over which Chungking continues to claim authority.
  At Cairo no official mention was made of Hongkong, although it is known that Chiang Kai-shek and Churchill considered the issue, with Chiang demanding the return of the colony to China and Churchill presumably avoiding the question. - A.P.A.
BRITISH WEAPON FOR LOCATING
RAIDING AIRCRAFT

---

CRIPPS COMPARES UTILITY OF RADAR
WITH THAT OF ATOM BOMB

  LONDON, AUG. 15. - Radar possesses far more immediate potentialities for service of the human race even than the splitting of the atom, declared Sir Stafford Cripps, Chairman of the Radio Board from 1942 to May, 1945, yesterday when closely guarded details of the weapon, which has revolutionized modern warfare were disclosed for the first time.
  This weapon, which saved the British Isles from utter destruction by German bomber fleets and burst a ring of German U-Boats around the British coast and on shipping lanes leading from America, was invented owing to urgent need for defending the country against air attacks.
  It was in 1934 that scientific men at the Air Ministry began to devote their attention seriously to this problem, when it was learned that energy re-radiated from aircraft would suffice for locating them.
  An experiment was made. It was successful and the Radar was born. It was found that "pulses" of energy radiated on ten-metre wavelength could "floodlight" a wide space pinpointing any aircraft within its range.
  Similarly by using two sets of aerials at different heights, the height of an aircraft could be detected within 500 feet and the number of aircraft ascertained.
  Targets were shown by a line of light becoming brighter until a bright spot showed the position of the target on the "map."
  Sir Stafford Cripps continued: "Radar devices multiply the value of air fleet by five. In navigation, Radar enables a ship of aircraft to have a continuous indication of position within ten yards of its true place."
  By March, 1939, just before the outbreak of the war, Britain had built up a continuous chain of Radar stations as a protective belt from Scotland to the Isle of Wight.
  Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, who was in Malta during the great fight against German aircraft, said that there was one occasion when they only had one serviceable night fighter available and five day fighters. It was at moments like that that Radar was worth squadrons.
  Sir Watson Watt, who in 1935 produced the first practical proposals for locating aircraft by radio, said that by means of Radar they were able to keep track of German V-2 rockets from the moment of firing until they reached their destination. - Reuter.

AVOIDING CIVIL WAR

---

Chinese Authorities Take Precautions

  CHUNGKING, AUG. 14. - Every step is being taken by the highest authorities in China to guard against the possibility of civil war breaking out and I learn that the attitude of Chinese communists will not be allowed to interfere with the peaceful re-occupation of Shanghai and other liberated cities by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's armies, cables Reuter's special correspondent.
  It is not improbable that the American-trained Chinese Sixth Army which fought in Burma and has since been standing by in China will be flown to the Shanghai area as soon as possible to take part in the city's liberation. Japanese behaviour in many occupied areas has left a legacy of hate that will not easily be forgotten and one of the first tasks of the army of occupation will be to keep order and prevent that massacre of Japanese and their Chinese puppets.
  Earlier reports out of Shanghai stated that several high-ranking puppets had made plans to fly to Russia but this refuge has been denied them as a result of the Soviet entry into the Far Eastern war.
  Tentative arrangements have been made for feeding the population in liberated areas and for accomodating thousands of people who will move back from west China. It is not yet known what steps have been taken to meet the currency problem, but the steadily strengthening national dollar is worth many times the puppet currency in use in Shanghai.
  Since Japan's offer of surrender, the black market rate for the American gold dollar in Chungking has dropped from 2,200 Chinese national dollars to less than 1,600. - Reuter.










AUGUST  16,  1945

Original issue of the Hindusthan Standard shared by CBI veteran Charles Mette

Copyright © 2007 Carl Warren Weidenburner. All rights reserved.







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