INVASION OF JAPAN

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

INVASION OF JAPAN

Big Forces To Be Used ENEMY’S “HARSH FATE” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) GUAM, July 29. “The invasion of Japan will be made with the most overwhelming forces ever concentrated." said the Chief of Staff of the sth Fleet (Rear-Admiral Ramsey), commenting in a broadcast on a statement by the Domei News Agency that Japan prefers utter destruction to surrender. “The enemy has chosen a harsh fate," added Rear-Admiral Ramsey. “In all history, there, is no more glaring example of a nation imposing disaster upon itself. We are entering a stage in which the enemy will find Increasing difficulty in maintaining his communications in Korea, Manchuria, and the China coast, and even over-water traffic between his four principal home islands. “In the near future, the number of Superfortresses attacking Japan will be almost double, plus large forces of other bombers. Vast numbers of troops are being assembled, and huge quantities of munitions will be used in further amphibious operations against the enemy confronting the - Allied Army.” Rear-Admiral Ramsey said that since the sweeps off the Japanese coast started three weeks ago, 74 ships had been sunk, 157 had been damaged, and more than 400 aircraft had been destroyed. The guns of battleships and cruisers had pounded important coastal targets, while destroyers had swept the entrance to TQkyo Bay, he said. The commander of the Allied Air Forces in the south-west Pacific (Lieu-tenant-General G. C. Kenney) said that he would soon have 5000 aircraft under his command, not including the large force of Superfortresses and the swarms of carrier aeroplanes already in action.