OVER AND OUT

Final surrender brought crowds onto streets

- 

THE Prime Minister's speech at midnight, giving the dramatic announcement of Japan's capitulation, ignited a train of events in Birmingham that led from early morning neighbourly felicitations to a crescendo of boisterous rejoicings in the city centre 24 hours after.

Hardly had the wireless announcer said 'Good night,' hardly had the cacophony of the sirens (so reminiscent of 'blitz' days) ceased booming and shrilling when, in the suburbs, there was a stir in the streets, knocking at doors, and exultant voices asking: 'Have you heard it? It's over.'

Wise old people turned over in bed and said: 'Thank God.'

But the young people could not restrain their delight at the thought that there was no longer any need to prepare for combat and that the normal values in life were in process of returning.

Bonfires were alight early yesterday in many parts of the city, at the centre of which, in Victoria Square, there speedily congregated a crowd which disported itself in the immemorial fashion of bright young people who need vent for their pent-up spirits. Servicemen were clambering over the stately statue of Queen Victoria, and gaily decorating it. Surely the spirit of the old Queen did not say, as was her Majesty's fashion on occasion, 'We are not amused.'

Somehow or other a bonfire was started blazing. No one seemed to know whence the materials came, but there it was, bright and early.

There were more than 10,000 people in Victoria Square in the early hours of the morning, but as time went on, and vigour ebbed, the mass disintegrated, and the people dribbled home.

There was at that time no transport, of course. That had been announced in advance. Indeed, later in the morning, when those who wanted to get to town by tram and bus, they found that the services were quite inadequate. That was due largely to the unexpected announcement by the Prime Minister at an unexpected hour.