K mam
cr
y
M
United Press
Fortieth Year
Japan's Cabinet Resigns; Member Suicides;
Hirohito Says Atomic Bomb Brought Defeat
HARA-KIRI WAVE
MAY BE SEQUEL
Surrender Requires New
Government With "Fresh
' Ideas" Tokyo Declares.
San Francisco, Aug. 15 (U.R)
The Japanese cabinet resigned
tftj.ir nnH nnp member already
has committed hara-kiri in theJ
first of what may become a wave
of suicides among Japan's beaten
war lords.
The official Japanese Domei
News Agency said War Minister
Gen. Korechika Anami, 58, took
his life at his official residence to
"atone for his failure in accom
plishing his duties as his majes
ty's minister."
New Ideas Needed
Domei said Premier Kantaro
Suzuki tendered the resignation
of his cabinet at 3:20 p. m. Tokyo
time (2:20 a. m. EWT) because of
"the new situation created by
Japanese acceptance of the Pots
dam declaration.
- Japan's surrender required a
new cabinet of men "with fresh
ideas," Tokyo said. The cabinet s
decision was reached -aV an ex
traordinary meeting at ine pre
mier's official residence.
Disclosure of Anami's suicide
touched off speculation that
other members of the Suzuki and
past cabinets similarly would
"atone for their failure" to win
the war.
. San Francisco, Aug. 15 (U.R)
Emperor Hirohito, in the first
broadcast ever made to his 100,
000,000 subjects, said today that
the atomic bomb forced Japan to
accept the first military defeat
in the 2 605 years of her history.
The bespectacled "Son of Hea
ven," speaking four hours after
President Truman announced
that the Pacific war was over,
said that the atomic bomb, drop
ped for the first time only nine
days before, was "new and- most
cruel."
k First Time Heard
The Emperor spoke over the
Japanese Broadcasting Corpora
tion Network at noon Tokyo
time (11 p. m. Tuesday EWT). It
was the first time, with the ex
ception of a few government and
military officials and members
of th roval family, that any Jap
anese had heard the voice of the
emperor.
". , The enemy has begun to
employ a new and most cruel
bomb the power of which to do
damage is indeed incalculable,
taking the toll of many innocent
lives." he said. "Should we con
tinue to fight, it would not only
result in an ultimate collapse and
obliteration of the Japanese na
tion, but it would lead to total
destruction of human civiliza
tion." One Alternative
Faced with the alternative of
capitulation or "ultimate col
lapse and obliteration of the
Japanese nation," the emperor
declared that "we have ordered
the acceptance of the provisions
of the joint declaration" of the
United States, Great Britain,
China and the Soviet Union.
"Indeed, we declared war on
America and Britain out of our
sincere desire to ensure Japan s
self-preservation and the stabili
zation of East Asia, it being far
from our thought either to in
fringe upon the sovereignty of
other nations or to embark upon
territorial aggrandizement," he
"But now the war has lasted
for nearly four years. Despite the
best that has been done by every
one the gallant fighting of mi j
tary ind naval forces, the dili
gence and assiriujty of our ser
vants of the state and the devoted
service of our 100.000,000 peo
ple, the war situation has de
veloped not necessarily to Jap
an's advantage, while the gener
al trends of the world have all
turned against her interest.'
EDFORD
Full Leased Wire
Double Holiday Proclaimed
By President and Governor
Washington, Aug. 15 (U.R)
A lot of the U. S. A- is taking a
couple of days off.
It's not strictly a legal holiday,
but nobody is bothering much
with technicalities.
Stock exchanges, department
stores, all government offices,
many war plants and most of the
nation's business offices are
tightly closed for today. Many
of them will remain shut tomor
row, reopening Friday morning.
The banks, though, have to
stay open because it isn't legally
a holiday.
President Truman set the 48
hour victory holiday pace, with
statements that:
! Excused all government em
ES
TAKE HOLIDAYS
N CELEBRATION
Few business offices or firms
remained - open today after a
presidential proclamation by
Harry Truman late yesterday de
clared a legal holiday for the
nation. Some businesses are rec
ognizing a two-day release from
work, and will be closed today
and tomorrow, while others will
rcsumt work Thursday.
Telegrams from Governor Earl
Snell, confirming the legal holi
day declaration, were received
by officials of both the First Na
tional and U. S National banks
here, and those places are closed
for two days, to resume work
Friday. Most government em
ployees were given a two-day re
lease, including employees of the
Medford post office. Windows of
the pjst office are closed and no
mail deliveries will be made un
til Friday, although a skeleton
crew is maintained to handle
necessary work.
Courthouse Closed
Judge J. B. Coleman stated
this morning that In recognition
of the governor's declaration, the
courthouse offices will be closed
both today and tomorrow.
Food stores were closed today,
despite earlier decisions to re
main open with holiday wage
rates for employees due to the
large stocks of perishable foods.
William Gates said this morning
that plans were changed with is
suance of the governor's order,
but the stores will be open to
morrow. At a meeting late this morn
ing, members of the Retail Mer
chants association decided to rec
ognize the joint presidential pro
clamation and governor's declar
ation and remain closed for two
days. N. T. Vincent, president
of the association, said the order
includes 'retail stores, beverage
shops and garages.
City restaurants are divided
some closing today and others
tomorrow in an attempt to alter
nate for the benefit of patrons.
Valley packing plants. wich
started operations this week, are
closed today but will resume
work tomorrow, various plants
commencing work at different
times according to pear picking
schedules.
The Mail Tribune went to
press at noon today, to allow em
ployees a partial holiday, but
will publish as usual tomorrow.
Auburn Cafes To
Reopen Tomorrow
Auburn, Cel.. Aug. 15 (U.R)
This city's 15 restaurants, closed
since Aug. 1 in a protest against
insufficient ration points, will
reopen tomorrow, R. W. Ed
wards, spokesman for the res
taurant proprietors, announced
today.
Edwards reported, after a con
ference of the restauranteurs
and ration board officials, that
the owners have accepted sup
plemental points issued by the
food panel of the local board,
MEDFORD, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1945.
ployes in Washington and
throughout the country from
work today and tomorrow, ex
cept for "skeleton forces" of key
workers.
2. Provided that private in
dustry employes working on gov
ernment orders shall be paid
time and a half if they have to
work today or tomorrow.
Salem, Ore., Aug- 15 (U.R)
Gov. Earl Snell today called
upon the people of Oregon to
i give thanks "to Almighty God
that this terrible and most de
vastating war that man and his
tory have ever known has final
ly come to an end."
Today and tomorrow were pro
claimed legal holidays in Ore
gon by the governor, who order
ed closed all state and public
buildings, stores and agencies.
Local officials followed suit.
"Let us offer a prayer of com
fort to the parents and relatives
of those men and women who
have made the supreme sacrifice
in behalf fcf the great cause of
liberty, justice and freedom," the
governor said.
RECEIVE HOLIDAY
Camp White Col. John R.
Young, commanding officer at
Camp White, announced today
that all government employees,
both military and civilian, work
ing at the camp, whose duties
would permit, would be given a
two day holiday starting today.
In making the announcement,
Col. Young stated that many
employees are key personnel
and it is necessary that they re
main on their jobs. The post
commander added that those
who must remain on their jobs
will receive a two day holiday at
a subsequent date.
It was requested by Cob
Young that civilian employees
at Camp White who did not re
port today but whose services
might be needed in the next few
days Hibntact their duty officer
at the camp.
Surrender Ends
For Thousands
By Frank W. Hewlett
United Press War
Correspondent
Japan's surrender will end the
prison suffering of thousands of
American soldiers, sailors and
marines headed by Lt. Gen. Jon
athan Wainwright.
The suggestion has been made
by some observers that the Jap
anese could evidence their good
faith in surrender negotiations
by producing Gen. Wainwright
and returning him to the Amer
icans forthwith.
Besides this great and beloved
American general, who passed
Into enemy hands with the sur
render In the Philippines, the
Japanese should have about 15.
000 Americans in their prisoner
of war camps, but only time will
tell how many survived more
than three years of mistreat
ment. Most In Philippines
The Japanese took the great
majority of their American pri
soners in the Philippines early
in li)42. They also captured
Americans on Wake and Guam
and a Texas National Guard regi
ment which surrendered in Java.
Latest reports from Japan in
dicated that Gen. Wainwright
was in Manchuria with other
high-ranking American and Brit
ish officers. For more than a
year he was on Formosa but was
moved from there in the inter
ests of "safety," according to the
Japanese.
Wainwright as commander of
corps No. 1 on Bataan and later
ai Gen, MacAxtliuxi successor to
CITY'S STREETS
T
Police Report Little Disorder
As Throng Observes End
Of Japanese Conflict
Thousands of people r.-illed
about downtown streets of the
city lasnight in a mass celebra
tion of V-J day, but little or no
actual property, damage was
caused, and no serious accidents
were reported to city police.
Several street signs were bent
and paper confetti thrown about
the area promised a busy clean
up day for city employees, but
policemen say that while several
persons in the crowds were in
various stages of intoxication,
little disorder was noted .
Several Military Police were
sent to Medford from Camp
White, to help control the hilar
ity. The intersection of Main
street and Central avenues was
jammed with cars and pedes
trians throughout the evening.
Theaters were crowded and most
business houses remained closed
after about 4 p. m. when the of
ficial announcement came pro
claiming the end of the war.
Residents who had waited
tensely throughout the last few
days heard with joy that after
nearly four years of war the
country was at last at peace
again. Cars of shouting persons,
with horns blaring, circulated
around Medford streets in a
spontaneous outburst.
At least 400 persons crowded
into the Baptist church, which
seats normally only 275, for
union worship services marking
V-J day, it was reported today
by members of the Medford
Ministerial Association which
sponsored the gathering. Several
more stood outside while pray
ers were offered for the victory
over Japan, and for the many
servicemen who have taken
part in the battles.
In 1944 State lion hunters
took only 41 of the 177 mountain
lions killed during the year.
Suffering
Imprisoned
command of the Philippines, be
came one of America's favorite
generals.
This correspondent lived for
months at Gen. Wainwright's
Jungle headquarters on Bataan.
. On more than one occasion.
Wainwright told me his ambition
was to command the American
Army of Occupation in Japan.
Long Planned
I have never written about
Wainwright's "ambition" be
cause it might have resulted in
Japanese reprisals. But even
during the height of the Bataan
campr.lgn the general was quiet
ly "picking his aides" and adding
Japanese words to his vocabu
lary. The Japanese announced on
Feb. 9 last that Gen. Wainwright
and 176 other American army
and navy personnel had been
transferred from Formosa to
Mukden, Manchuria. With Wain
wright were five major generals
and 12 brigadier generals.
The Japanese radio reported
in June. 1942, that 25.000 Amer
ican soldiers sailors and marines
had been captured. In addition,
the enemy claimed 64.000 Brit
ish troops captured (including
Australians and Canadians) and
24.000 Dutch.
Apoioxlmatcly 1200 American
military prisoners were liber
ated by Gen, MacArthur's forces
in the Philippines last January
and February. The remainder of
the men of Bataan and Corregi
dor had died in prison or been
shipped to Formosa, Manchuria
or Japan proper, -
Tribune
United Press Full
JAPS NOTICE TOR
Supreme Allied Commander
Orders Representatives
Sent to Manila For Terms
Washington, Aug- 15 (U.R)
The world today entered a bright
new era of peace in which Gen.
Douglas MacArthur summarily
ordered Japan to send represen
tatives to Manila to receive al
lied surrender terms.
He acted as supreme allied
comnrander.
MacArthur Is expected to an
nounce that Japan will sign on
her home soil or in territorial
waters perhaps Tokyo Bay.
American forces were ordered
to cease offensive action last
night. Tokyo broadcast to Jap
anese troops at midnight EWT
(1 p. m., Wednesday Japanese
time) the announcement of agree
ment to surrender-
Hostilities End
MacArthur's message also ' di
rected" the Japanese immediate
ly tor cease hostilities, -
In his first radio message to
Tokyo, MacArthur notified the
enemy of his appointment as
supreme allied commander and
designated, pending further word
from the Japanese, Tokyo's radio
station JNR for communication
with his headquarters in Manila.
MacArthur moved swiftly to
force Japan's formal surrender
after being notified of his ap
pointment. His office bustled
with activity.
Fighters Lauded
In a formal statement on the
announcement of the surrender
earlier in the day, MacArtnur
said:
"I thank a merciful God that
this mighty struggle is about to
end. I shall at once take steps
to stop hostilities and further
bloodshed.
"The magnificent men and
women who have fought so nob
ly to victory can now return to
their homes in due course and
resume their civil pursuits.
"They have been good soldiers.
May they be equally good citi
zens In peace."
President Truman announced
Japan's agreement to uncondi
tional surrender last night at
7 o'clock EWT. There arose from
the vast homelands of those who
love democracy a shout heard
'round the world.
With the consent of the allies,
Mr. Truman named MacArthur
supreme commander for the
allied powers-
TO
Chungking, Aug. 15 (U.R)
Gercnalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek
offered to negotiate a settlement
of his dispute with the Chinese
communist party today in an ap
parent bid to ward off a threat
ened cnternal crisis.
In a surprise peace overture
to the northern communists,
Chiang radioed an urgent appeal
to the Red leader, Mao Tsc-Tung,
to confer personally with him In
Chungking.
We have many International
and internal problems waiting
settlement," Chiang's message
said. "May I humbly Invite you
to come to Chungking imme
diately and discuss things in
person?
"This Involves our national
welfare; please do not decline."
The generalissimo' move
came on the heels of a defiant
communist proclamation an
nouncing that the Chinese com
munist forces had rejected
Chungking's orders forbidding
them lo take over Japanese-held
areas of China,
Leased Wiri
NO. 123.
GEN. MacARTHUR
Washington. Aug. 15 (U.R)
Gen. Douglas MacArthur cabled
President Truman today that he
was "deeply grateful" for the ap
pointment to receive the final
Japanese surrender.
"The entire western world Is
unexpressedly thrilled and stir
red by the early termination of
the war," MacArthur said. "I
shall do everything possible to
capitalise this situation, along
the magnificently constructive
lines you have conceived for the
peace of the world."
NEXT OBJECTIVE
Washington, Aug. 15 U.R)
The army, left only with the job
of occupation, cut its draft re
quirements sharply today and
began preparations to demobil
ize up to 5.500, 000 men in the
next 12 to 18 months.
The war department was ex
pected to announce during the
day its plans for dismantling the
bulk of the huge land and air
forces that were being assembled
to crush the Japanese.
The navy's demobilization jvlll
be neither so rapid nor so broad
as the army's.
Five Million Out Soon
President Truman signaled the
start of army demobilization
with a statement that from 5,
000,000 to 5,500,000 men would
be released from the army dur
ing the next year or year and a
half.
He also announced that the
army was cutting its draft quotas
from 80,000 to 50,000 a month,
with the new inductees destined
to go into occupational duty to
relieve war-weary veterans.
Mr. Truman disagreed with
congressional leaders who favor
ed an immediate end of selective
service with the close of hos
tilities. "In justice to the millions of
men who have given long and
faithful service under the diffi
cult and hazardous conditions of
the Pacific war and elsewhere
overseas," he said, " a constant
flow of replacements to the oc
cupation forces is thought to be
Imperative."
To Take Teen Agers
"Mathematically and moral
ly," he added, the solution ap
pears to be to continue the draft
on a reduced basis. The bulk of
the new inductees will come
from the 'teen age group.
Mr- Truman said It was too
early to specify the number of
occupation troops that would be
needed In the Pacific war or to
predict what reductions might
be possible in German occupa
tion forces.
French Given Two
Zones In Germany
Washington, Aug. 1 5 (U.P)
Announcement of zone boundar
ies for the big four occupation of
Germany revelled today that
France will occupy only two
small sections In southwestern
Germany and that the British
will take over the rich Ruhr
valley.
The largest and most Import
ant part of the Rhinrland will be
occupied by the British.
Other zone boundaries arc ap
proximately as previously an-Duuutcd,
' i -"Li
Control Continues
On Shoes, Tires, and
Meat, Butter, Sugar
A.. 1 K ft0 t ll- ....II 1 - I- JJ
office of price administration announced today.
Nor will canned fruits and vegetables, fuel oil, and oil stovei
be rationed any longer, OPA said.
ttationing stop orders are etlective Immediately.
qui ittuuiuiig ui mcuis, mis
aim miici uuiiiuiuiiiiics win i-uuuuue iiiueiniiieiy, urA saia, un
til military cutbacks and increased production can balance civilian
supply and demand.
UNABLE TO SAY WHEN ALL RATION OFF
Pllna Aminiclonlnn Pl,n,4n. rin,,,l- nJ J Kn. It.l.Ll lat.
. .vw . ...inuuia.. iui vaivoaw
Impossible to say just when all
hp pnHpH fnrm'or.
"It Certailltv can't pnmn inn
Bowles said. "You can be sure
the minute we hear that supplies
to go around."
With the lid off gasoline purchases, motorists may now shout
"Fill 'er nil!" in Tillintf statim-i nn... .1, : a ;
- " e ........... ...v.a.u.a iva nu; iiasa nine BUllB
rationing started on May 15, 1942.
Thp liftinar nf vatln..i II 1 ..a ;a
.us un gtiauiuit: tanu iuui uu whs maae pos
sible by tremendous cutbacks of military purchases. Reconversion
nil-ftotn- Til,n W ?...! 1..J ,- . .
. oii,uci leveiiiea earner loaay mat with the end
of the war, the military will require 44 per cent less gasoline.
AnH tliP nrmv.nntm nnfonlnnan 1 1 i n ...... . .
..... pLiiu.cimi uumu iihu tuiuuuncea il will reauce
its fuel oil and gasoline supplies for the armed forces by about
v,uU v rjoiunia a iiiutiiii,
GAS QUALITY SOON TO IMPROVE
The petroleum industry is now operating at an all-time record
rate. Not nillv will pivilinne nt i:. i.. .... . ... .
... - . "iwic Kcasuiiuc, uui ine quality
will return soon to peacetime standards with the cutback of mili-
.........a-uii-iiia iui aviation IUC1.
Removal Of hlllP-ctamn a.annAl 4V..:i.. l . ,i.t.t
.. , f -"-
ration list was made possible by
military cutbacks.
10 keep these programs operating, Bowles asked members of
the nation s 5.500 loeal mllnninn ha..J. a .. ... .
the present. "
"We Will ennttnuo in naaA
. . , .. , i,r,p "CHst uniu meat, tlr
and shoe rationing can be eliminated," he said-
tires, the first commodity to
next terns In he romnuoH trnn,
- -. iaviuiuiig, m any event, todav m
announcement could be depended on to make U. S. motorist!
BLAZE DEST
CHENEY BROTHERS
CENTRAL PL ILL
Fire of undetermined origin
which started yesterday evening
wnne tnousands of valley resi
dents were celebrating V-J day,
burned the Cheney Oregon Lum
ber company stud mill at Cen
tral Point to the ground in one
of the largest fires in Southern
Oregon for several years. Dis
covered shortly before 7 p. m.,
the flames burned throughout
the night, consuming stock piles
while crews from the Central
Point fire department, slate for
est patrol, Medford fire depart
ment and Camp White battled to
save nearby buildings.
Francis and Ben Cheney, bro
thers, are owners of the mill,
and Francis Cheney is local
manager. It was understood to
day that no estimate has been
made on the damage, but the loss
was covered by insurance and
the mill will be rebuilt.
Wind Fans Flames
It was thought that the fire
might have been caused by an
overheated motor attached to
the sawdust blower system, as
the tire started at the north end
, of the mill near the motor. A
j north wind fanned the flames
uiiougn ine Duiicung within live
minutes, and continued to burn
for several hours among piles of
lumber. Efforts of the firemen
were directed toward saving the
office building south of the mill,
and protecting the Southern
Oregon Sugar Pine mill just
across the railroad tracks. One
shed of the Sugar Pine mill was
set afire, and a small office of
the Central Point Fuel company
was completely burned.
Cheney brothers, who own
several other mills on the coast,
suffered a similar loss in a fire
at Tacoma, Wash., only a week
ago. Principal work at the Cen
tral Point mill was cutting rail
road ties and 2 by 4's.
T
Washington, Aug 15 (U.R)
The navy announced today It
will release 1.500,000 to 2,
500.000 men and women In
the next year lo 18 months un
der a new point system.
Approximately 327.000 men
and women are eligible for Im
mediate discharge.
The Coast Guard demobiliza
tion will be handled on the same
system,
The point system established
by the Navy gives one-half point
for each year of age, figured to
the nearest birthday: One-half
point for each full month of ac
tive duty since Sept. 1, 1939: and
10 extra points for dependents.
This means 10 points for depend
ents In general, regnrdlcas of the
number, el dependent.
una uus, uuuer, sugar, snoes, urea
uuwica Bciiu mat iigub now 11 m
civilian buying restrictions can
nnn n far n w ara innranA
that these items will Bo off the list
are anywhere near big enough
a.uiaa mm vcKCliloies irom WO
good crop prospects as well as by
' ule,r J0DS Ior
a a . . ..
be rationed, may be among the
vii i r . .
LOSS OF CRUISER
WITH 880 LIVES
Guam, Aug. 15 U.R) Two
tremendous torpedo explosions
sank the heavy cruiser Indian
apolis July 30 and caused 1,198
casualties every man aboard
ship while she was bound from
Guam to Leyte, survivors report
ed today.
The navy announced that 860
of the casualties were killed or
missing in one of the worct U. S.
naval disasters of war or peace
time history. The other 318
casualties were wounded.
The 9,950-ton cruiser wa
sunk shortly after delivering es
sential atomic bomb material to
Guam.
Survivors said they watched
some 200 of their shipmates per
ish after five days of helpless
threshing in the sea. Many of
the men went mad from drink
ing sea water before the group
was sighted by search planes 280
miles north of Pclcliu.
FATE OF PETAIN
UP TO DEGAULLE
Paris. Aug. 15 (U.R) The fat
of Marshal Henri Philippe i'e
tain, who was condemned to di
by the Paris high court for trea
sonable intelligence with the en
emy, rested today with Gen.
Charles DeGaullc.
The jury, after finding Pctaln
guilty, recommended that tha
sentence not be carried out be
cause of the 89-year-old mar
shal's age. It was believed the
mercy recommendation undoubt
edly would be placed immediate
ly before DcGaulle the man
who was once sentenced to death
in absentia by a Vichy court.
Pctain was found guilty on th
charge of intelligence with the
enemy, but not guilty of charges
of plotting to gain power and
against the security of the stale.
Thus he was guilty on one main
charge and not guilty on two.
Lo as 'Temporary'
Tokyo Radio Tells
Japanese Soldiers
San Francisco, Aug. 15
(U.R) Radio Tokyo told Jap
anese forces on the far-flung
Pacific fighting fronts today
that Japan's defeat was only
'temporary."
Kusuo Oya, chief of the
overseas bureau of the Jap
anese Broadcasting Corpora
tion, exhorted the Japanese
troops to "face defeat like a
brave one"
' Let us all unite together
and work to once again bring
our nation up to stand as
strong and admirable nation "
he said. "We liavo lost, but
Uiu is itmpurauy , t "