The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-08-26
WEATHER DELAYS
AMERICAN LANDING
Typhoons Cause Postpone
ment OF Rescue of
Many Prisoners
BY RALPH TEATSORTH
UNITED Press Staff !
CORRESPONDENT

Correspondent
MANILA, Sunday, Aug. 26.
- (UP) - Warships of the
United States Pacific fleet
the vanguard of 401 Allied
ships standing off Japan-to-
day steamed triumphantly in
to Sagami Bay, at the en-
trance to Tokyo Bay, to pre-
pare for the landing of Amer
lean occupation forces.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, Su.
preme Allied Commander, mes
saged the Japanese that United
States fleet units were moving in
to Sagami Bay and directed that
Japanese general headquarters
will provide for safe entry"
Macarthur said that entry into
Sagami Bay - 40-nile wide bay
which joins Tokyo Bay through a
narrow strait Is miles south Of
the Japanese capital - was made
under paragraph five, document
three of the requirements of the
supreme commander for the al
lied powers"
Landing Sites Selected
Occupation troops will land from
ships in Sagami Bay near Atsugi
and at the Yokosuka naval base at
the mouth of Tokyo Bay.
The first units of Adm. Chester
| w. Nimitz's mighty forces of 1888
American and 10 British ships,
moved into the approaches to
Tokyo Bay this morning, a day
after a mercy armada Of U. S.
carrier planes had parachuted food
and medical supplies to American
prisoners in the Tokyo area.
Entry of the warships into Saga
mi Bay meant MarArthur was adj
herring to at least one phase OF
his original schedule. He had am
nounced a 4S hour delay in the
occupation and surrender opera
ton due to weather. He did not
indicate today whether the opera
ton now would proceed on the
original plan.
Macarthur announced that the
entire occupation schedule for
Honshu and Kyushu islands has
been set back two days by a series
of typhoons raging across the IS
lands, and Tokyo reports indicated
that new winds and rains might
cause further delays.
Rescue Postponed
The typhoons delayed rescue OF
the American prisoners by at least
48 hours, but the parachute drops
of supplies indicated that Amerl-
can commanders are determined
to take all help possible to the
captured fighting men who have
waited more than three years Tor
relief.
Nimitz lifted a security curtain
to list not only the major ships
cruising off Tokyo Bay but all OF
them down to the smallest auxil-
larry which will spearhead the oc'
cupational landing. They include
u of Americas newest battleships
and two British battleships as well
as II of the largest aircraft car.
riers in the U. S. Pacific fleet.
Screening this staggering array
of naval power were 20 American
cruisers, 81 American destroyers.
six escort carriers and at least 10
other British men of war. An
Australian naval squadron Of two
cruisers and two destroyers il
scheduled to arrive in Tokyo Bay
in time for the surrender ceremony
on Sept. 2.
Following in the train Of fight
| ing ships were scores OF trans.
ports, cargo ships, ammunition
tenders, hospital ships and landing
craft, while flotillas of minesWeep-
ers will clear a path for the ar.
mada.
The hospital ships are expected
to load Immediately with injured
and ill American prisoners now in
the hands of the Japanese.
Waiting Weather
The entire fleet is waiting for
clearing weather before steaming
to their appointed landing places.
The delay was announced by Mac.
Arthur after Tokyo reported that
typhoon which swept the Japa-
nese capital last Wednesday and
Thursday had flooded airfields
and made them almost useless for
large airborne landings. .
Continued on Page 4, Col. y