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ALLIES MAY SOON PRESENT NEW
ULTIMATUM TO JAPS
WASHINGTON, Wed. - Washington is
seething with reports today that Presi-
dent Truman, who returned from Potsdam
last night, will soon announce the despatch
of a second and last British, American, and
Chinese ultimatum to Japan to surrender
within 48 hours or be annihilated by atomic
bombs.
These reports were heightened by the official revelation that more
than 4 sq. miles of Hiroshima, victim of the first atomic bomb attack,
was wiped out, and by Japanese admissions of the frightful retribution
that struck the city.
Reconnaissance photographs show that GO pc of Hiroshima was devastated, five
major industrial targets wiped out, and extensive damage inflicted beyond the area
completely destroyed. . "Hiroshima's heart has been %oiped out as though by a giant
bulldozer," says one correspondent whd saiv the photographs.
An even grimmer story was told by Tokio. The radio said today the impact of
I. the bomb was so terrific that practically all living things, human and animal,
"were literally seared to death by t.he tremendous heat and pressure engendered by s
the blast." It was impossible to check civilian casualties because many had been
burned beyond recognition.
US commentators are now speculating on an early end to the war. One says
it must come within a few months, and that it is not impossible within the next 10
days. Congress is expected to break its recess next week to enact vital legislation
in view of the possible imminence of peace.
American Associated Press
correspondent, who saw the
photographs of the effect of the
first atomic bomb attack, says only
a few Concrete structures, believed
to be air-raid shelters, are. left
standing in the target area, but
even tlrfey were seared inside. .
Seven streams and several
man-made firebreaks, including
one three blocks wide, which
which were among the best seen
in Japan, failed to stop the
flames.
The lower part of Hiroshima, in-
cluding the harbour and dock
facilities, appeared to have been
barely touched by the concussion-,
the correspondent adds.
In a"1 broadcast to America in
English today, Tokio Radio said:r
"Even with the gradual restora-
tion of order following the disas-,
trous ruin which struck Hiro-
shima in the wake of the enemy's
new type of bomb, the authorities
are still unable to obtain a definite
check on the extent of the civilian
casualties. ¡ : ,-. .
"Medical relief agencies that
rushed from neighbouring dis
tricts were unable to distin-'
guish, much less identify, th«
dead from thé injured.
The impact of the bomb waa so
terrific that practically all living
things, human and animal, were
literally seared to death by the
tremendous heat and pressure en-
gendered by the blast. All the
dead and injured have been burn-
ed beyond recognition.
"The effect of the bomb was
widespread. Those outdoors
were burned to death, and those
indoors were killed by the indes-
cribable pressure and heat.
''With houses and buildings,
including emergency medical
facilities, crashing around them,
the authorities have their hands
full giving every available re-
lief possible."
Tokio also revealed that Prince
Rigu, a member of the former
ruling house of Korea, who was a
lieutenant-colonel in the Japanese
Army, was killed in Hiroshima..
'Another, broadcast said the
Japanese Cabinet had held a spe-
cial meeting, to discuss the situa-
tion, "internal and foreign.'.'
lt also warned the Japanese
people to brace themselves for
new atomic bomb attacks.
Other broadcasts from Tokio
reported that investigations of tho
havoc wrought at Hiroshima were
still under way 36 hours after the
bomb was dropped.
$