The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1945 THE FALL OF JAPAN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 98, 16 August 1945, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1945 THE FALL OF JAPAN

YESTERDAY'S great news came as a long-awaited relief to the pent-up 'feeling of anticipation and anxiety which had been created by the first of the Tokio peace broadcasts a week ago. Japan the proud and arrogant nation of the Orient, with international ambitions only rivalled by those of Nazi Germany, has been humbled to the very dust. Unconditional surrender has been her portion, despite her desperate last-minute efforts to save the fabled prestige of her Emperor. It has taken over three and a half years to defeat an enemy whose only hope of victory lay in the destruction of the United States and Britain by a joint effort with Germany. The Japanese were cunning and well prepared. They struck when the Germans were at the gates of Moscow and held most of western Europe .when the British were still contending unevenly with Rommoi and the Americans were asleep. However overwhelming the defeat of the Japanese, their early victories should have taught one indelible lesson: never to underrate the daring and skill of this extraordinary people. Until the very eve of Pearl Harbour manyv if not the majority, of our people refused to believe that the Japanese would strike and were lulled to sleep by oft-repeated stories of Japan's shortage of raw materials, of the inefficiency of her airmen and the weakness of her naval craft. We in New Zealand were not the least at fault. Our rejoicings in complete victory should be touched with humility as we recall our tragic unreadiness and unawareness. Nor can we, as citizens of the British Empire responsible for the welfare of the Burmese and .the Malays, not to mention millions of Chinese, forget that we failed to protect these people at the crucial hour from cruel aggression and tyranny.' The war in the Pacific ends on a solemn note. Not in any mood of vainglory should we meet our victory. Through the marvellous knowledge and skill of scientists >n Britain and America we have secured the use of a weapon whose misuse can destroy mankind. Peace in .he Pacific brings the dawn of a new world to disturbed and wondering humanity. The political and scientific futures are .unpredictable. Russia is now a. great Pacific Power whose influence must be predominant in Manchuria and Korea and whose voice may be heard authoritatively in Chungking. The Soviet colossus has one foot in Europe and the other in Asia. Facing her across the Behring Strait is another *great Power, the United States, chief factor in the defeat of Japan, and let it never be forgotten, the preserver of this Dominion in the dark days of 1941 and 1942. New Zealand looks out on a new Pacific. Britain is still a Pacific Power, with great colonial responsibilities and drawn ever closer to her Dominions in these waters. The lesson of the war in the Pacific as far as New Zealand is concerned is. that ¥ working closely with Britain, we must achieve an intimate understanding with the United States, upon whose power and statesmanship will depend the security.of this gveat ocean fori many a year to come.

Saturday's Rugby Challenge First class Rugby is anticipated on Saturday next when two crack Maori teams will meet in the first challenge for the Tainui Maniapoto Cup. A write-up-of the teams competing appears on.page 8 of this issue. For clean and scientific Rugby Saturday's, game should be hard to beat.

No Publication on Friday Owing to the Peace Celebrations holiday there will be no publication of the BEACON on Friday. The 'Victory Issue' released today was actually printed to mark the glorious event of the dawn of the new Peace. Subscribers, and advertisers are asked to accept today's paper in lieu of tomorrow's.