ALLIED BLITZ ON JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24632, 31 July 1945, Page 5

ALLIED BLITZ ON JAPAN

Okinawa-Based Planes COMMUNICATIONS BOMBED (Rec. 9 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 29. “More than 700 bombers and fighters based on Okinawa carried out sorties on Japan on Friday and Saturday, striking at freight yards and the important seaport of Kago-. shima in southern Kyushu,’’ says a communique issued from General MacArthur’s headquarters. “They struck at warehouses and fuel supplies, and at the nearby Yoshima iron works. "Heavy units scored damaging hits on a battleship and an aircraftcarrier at Kure. Other bombers executed extensive’ and successful strikes against aerodromes in Kyushu, railways, communications, industrial target, and shipping, “At least 10 planes were destroyed or damaged on the ground on the aerodromes. Rolling stock was heavily damaged. Two freighters, a submarine chaser, and a lugger were sunk. A cruiser, a small aircraft-carrier, seven freighters, and four small vessels were damaged. “The only Interception was ineffective attacks by three enemy fighters. We lost six planes. “Air patrols of the 7th Fleet destroyed enemy shipping off northern, Formosa and the Riuklu Islands. Allied fighters ranged over the Asiatic coast from Korea to the Malay Peninsula.” “Admiral Halsey’s British and American carrier aircraft have avenged and eclipsed Pearl Harbour with their latest blow at the Japanese fleet In its own harbours of Kure and Kobe.” says a correspondent on Guam. “Pilots of the combined fleet, after sweeping over ports of the Inland Sea all day yesterday, reported that flames were shooting from the two battleships, Haruna and Ise, and also from three cruisers. The battleship Hyugo, which was struck on Tuesday, is resting on the mud with its decks awash. “The raiders, in addition to enemy shipping sunk and damaged, wrecked 94 Japanese aeroplanes and damaged 55 others, Aircraft flying over the Japanese waterway system sank nine more coastal cargo • vessels "and scores of small craft.” The air battle against Japan went on to-day, according to Japanese reports, with renewed attacks against the naval base of Kure.