SEA-AIR BATTLES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 269, 12 November 1943, Page 3

SEA-AIR BATTLES

TOKYO RADIO REPORT "Most Amazing Propaganda Displays Of War" N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 2 p.m. NEW YORK, Nov. 11. Allied and Japanese fleets are fighting a big, naval action off Bougainville Island, in the Northern Solomons, Berlin radio stated, quoting a Tokyo report. The radio announcer said there had also been major air clashes and that at least 10,000 United States troops had been killed. The United States Office of War Information stated that recent enemy reports of Pacific action had been "the most amazing propaganda displays of the war." It was commenting specifically on Tokyo radio claim that 96 Allied vessels had been sunk or damaged and 268 planes shot down in the Pacific in the past ten days. "Premier Tojo," Tokyo added, "has cabled his congratulations to the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Fleet, Admiral Koga, on these overwhelming sea and air victories." "These successive great war results have startled the enemy camp," Tokyo went on. "When the news of the latest disaster is fully known to the American public it will send American morale crashing. The Japanese Press has carried sweeping banner headlines hailing the greatest naval victory since the attack on Pearl Harbour."