Evening star., 1945-08-26
Jap Groups Commit
Hara-Kiri in Front
OF Imperial Palace
b. tbs Associated Press.


SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 25.-
Group suicides in front of the i'm
perial palace were reported today
by Tokyo radio in broadcast paint
ing picture of increasing sorrow
and gloominess" among the Japa-
nese as they taste the bitter de-
feat in battle"
Fear of some terrible incident of
bloodshed due to merely one worth
less and unnecessary act of some
thoughtless person" was expressed
by Isama Inouye, a Tokyo radio
commentator in an English language
message addressed to Japanese over
seas and recorded by the FEC.
Inouye's account of the group
hara-kiri before the palace ex-
pressed the opinion that "it is highly
probable that such incidents will
occur frequently in the future" as
they have in the past and said the
suicides were truly Japanese" He
added that such things are scarcely
understandable by the average
American" but that fellow japanese
living overseas can fully under
stand their psychology"
Occupation Plans Pushed.
Preparations for the occupation
forces are being rushed by the gov
eminent, Inouye said, and the au-
thorlties hope the Japanese re-
sponse will be such that they can
terminate this occupation peace
fully and as much as possible with
oht any incidents"
Reports coming from Manchukuo
of Russian soldiers attacking women
and pillaging farms, said Inouye,
ARE vigorously provoking a fear of
the occupation forces on the part
of our nationals at home" He said
other accounts reported behavior of
Soviet officers as excellent" and at
tributed the looting and attacks to
actions committed against the
common sense of the individual
soldiers
The commentator reviewed the
general situation in Japan, saying
communications are in disorder,
homes have been burned, roofs leak
with rains, clothes are covered with
dust and perspiration.'
TyphOOn Wrecks Gardens.
The recent typhoon damaged
vegetable gardens which few as
they were, comprised the peoples
small basis of hope and there
is no medicine for the sick, Inouye
declared. Such Inconvenience had
been borne for the sake of winning
the war. but now with defeat the
spirits for bearing such things are
beginning to falter slightly" The
people cannot help but hold some
gloomy forebodings with their
hearts"
Other broadcasts from Tokyo
dealt with reshuff1ing of various of
f1cials, reconstruction plans, and a
statement quoting the Rev. Patrick
James Byrne, superior of the Mary
knoll Fathers in Japan, that Ameri-
cans would find the japanese order
ly and cooperative in carrying out
the surrender terms.
Father Byrne. the broadcast in |
tercepted by the Associated Press
stated. asked the occupation soldiers
to maintain quiet reserve and
avoid anything ostentatious" in
their contracts with the japanese.
Demobilization Ordered.
An imperial rescript ordering
speedy demobiliza ton of the armed
forces expressed sympathy for Off
GERS and men who died in the service
and asked them to maintain unity
and demobilize in an orderly man
ner
The Tokyo radio said the Japa-
nese Munitions Ministry had been
abolished with Munitions Minister
Chikuhei Naka jima remaining in
the cabinet as commerce and in
dustry minister, and that the Ag-
riculture and Forestry Ministries
had been united under Kotamo
Sengoku.
Nippon Sangyo Keizai, leading
Tokyo financial daily newspaper,
appealed to the Allies to permit ia
pan to reconstruct her machine
industries from the very founda-
ton in order that the Japanese
may help pay the colossal repara-
tlons expected of them