Page:Military Occupation and Military Relations of the Allied Forces, Dossier 1, November 1945.pdf/15

 UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET THIRD FLEET

PRESS RELEASE (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) 12 September 1945

Scores of thousand of officers and men of the United States Third Fleet, whose warships and auxiliaries have lain at anchor in Tokyo Bay in support of the occupation for almost two weeks, will have their first opportunity to go ashore and inspect Japan, under a directed issued yesterday from Admiral William F. Halsey's Flagship, USS SOUTH DAKOTA.

Initial quotas for battleships, carriers, cruisers, destroyers and other Fleet vessels have been established at not more than five percent of the ships' companies ashore at any one time. All will observe the Third Fleet policy "that maximum liberty and recreation be extended to Fleet personnel," but "that strict discipline and proper conduct be observed."

Sightseeing parties will be controlled and will not carry weapons or knives. Illegal entry of buildings, looting or pilfering will be punished. Shore patrol headquarters have been established at Yokosuka and Yokohama.

At Yokosuka, site of the major U.S. naval base in the occupied Empire, a recreation beach has been established, capable of handling large parties of enlisted personnel.

A Fleet Landing is also being established at Yokohama, and sightseeing parties soon will be permitted to visit that onetime great Japanese port city.

Uniform for liberty in Japan is undress whites for enlisted men, and khaki without neckties for officers.

GENERAL HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES, PACIFIC PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE

12 Sept. 45. PRESS RELEASE:

According to Brig. Gen. George W. Wright (Carlisle, Penna) 8th Army Surgeon, ex-Prime Minister Hideki Tojo rested comfortable last night in the 98th Evacuation Hospital, Yokohama. As of 0900 today (12 September) his condition is good and the prognosis is fair. At the present time no visitors will be admitted to the patient's room. As soon as conditions permit, visits will be arranged.

Lieutenant General Robert L. Eichelberger will be available for a press conference at 1500 on Friday, 14 September, in his headquarters, NYK Building, Yokohama.

The Japanese Government will be directed today (Wednesday, Sept. 12) to deliver Haneda Airfield into the hands of Allied occupation forces.

Haneda, a small municipal airport on Tokyo Bay midway between Tokyo and Yokohama, will be reconstructed as the principal Air Transport Command terminal the Tokyo area.

The Japanese also will be directed to furnish dredging equipment to build up the shore line for lengthening runways. Japanese civilians occupying buildings on and adjacent to the airfield will be evacuated.

Reconstruction of the field will be completed in 60 to 90 days.

The Japanese government has requested it be furnished regulations for uniform and insignia so that Allied soldiers, sailors and marines of the occupation forces may be correctly identified.

In a note from Lieut. Gen. S. Arisue, chief of the Yokohama Japanese liaison commission, headquarters of the Supreme Commander for the Allies has been requested to furnish "dress and insignia regulations" for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps and attached civilians.

A color chart identifying uniforms and insignia of Allied officers already has been supplied and a similar chart for dress of enlisted men is being prepared.