The Evening Star (September 4, 1945)
Navy forces seeking 123 prisoners find Reds holding Dairen
DAIREN, Manchuria (AP, Sept. 3, delayed) – U.S. Seventh Fleet forces entered this modern port city today and found it completely under Russian control and virtually undamaged.
In their thus-far unsuccessful search for a party of 123 U.S. Navy prisoners of war from Guam, Wake and Corregidor, some of whom are high-ranking officers, the destroyers USS Evans and USS Hubbard made a high-speed run across the Yellow Sea to this port. The prisoners now are believed to be in the vicinity of Mukden.
The Russian commandant at Dairen and Capt. Chester C. Wood, Seventh Fleet task unit commander, are cooperating in the continuing search.
Lease-lend equipment everywhere
Dairen is filled with blond, stalwart Russians. Parked at strategic points are low, heavy Soviet tanks. In the beautiful hill-girt harbor bobs a lease-lend seaplane squadron. Russian officers rode in American staff cars and numerous lease-lend jeeps were evident.
The American landing party, in two whaleboats, was photographed by friendly Russians at the dock.
Almost every building flies a red flag. Civilians, including an estimated 60,000 Japanese, produced bolts of red silk which they converted into Russian flags. Both Russian and Chinese government flags flew from Chinese establishments.
Japs offered no opposition
The Russians exhibited virtually no interest in the civilian population and the Japanese garrison offered no opposition when the Soviet forces came in through Dairen with machinelike efficiency.
The Soviet Army deeply impressed civilians and community life is virtually at a standstill, awaiting developments.
The Tokyo radio already had broadcast accounts of the surrender when the Americans reached Dairen. Many Russians had been celebrating. They waved their bottles, grinned and asked the Americans to join them. The offer was declined, however, because of the Americans’ desire to locate their prisoner comrades without delay.
Many White Russians live in Dairen, but there was no animosity evident between Soviet forces and the local Russians – many of whom have been hired as interpreters.
Population of Dairen restless
Commercially, Dairen has been a dead city for two years, except for black market activities. Food shortages aggravated its industrial decline. It boasts large dock installations, however, which Russians and Chinese – under their new 30-year friendship treaty, will share.
The population is restless and its most evident attitude is one of “What’s going to become of us?” It results from Manchuria’s uncertain post-war status.
The Japanese have enjoyed a monopoly so long that current readjustments present a problem.