ENEMY SHIPPING BOMBED

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24633, 1 August 1945, Page 7

ENEMY SHIPPING BOMBED

ALLIED ONSLAUGHT ON KURE

BATTLESHIP DAMAGED WASHINGTON, July 30. The air onslaught on Japan was continued to-day with further attacks against the big Japanese naval base of Kure by fighters ana bombers of the Far Eastern Air Force from Okinawa. The bombers, diving through heavy cloud, scored hits on a large aircraftcarrier, and when last seen she was listing heavily at the stern. While this attack was being carried cut, other aeroplanes were sweeping over the big port of Nagasaki, in Kyushu. They scored direct hits on a 10,000-ton Japanese tanker in the harbour. “Photographs show that the battleship Kanina, which Navy and Army bombers hit at Kure on Sunday, is afloat, but is heavily damaged,” says the Manila correspondent of the Associated Press. “Army Mitchells at Kure on Sunday left a large aircraft-carrier listing. The aircraft-carrier Katsuragi, which was hit on Saturday by Liberators with 20001b bombs, is still afloat, with her deck blackened by fire. “The Far East Air Force in the last three days has destroyed or damaged five warships and 91 merchant vessels in Japanese home waters. “Allied Headquarters - point out that the presence of most of the merchantmen round Kyushu and Korea has indicated that the enemy is trying to keep the lifelines between Japan and the Asiatic continent open across his narrow home waters. Previously, the heaviest traffic was from Shanghai and ports in south China.”

FIGHTING IN LUZON

(Rec. 12.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, July 31. “After a fortnight of full-scale warfare, the Americans have captured the Ifugao ridge in northern Luzon,” says the correspondent of the Associated Press. “The Americans face further fortified ridges with well-fed suicide garrisons protecting the Japanese commander, Yamsshita. and the other officers trapped in the mountafhous wilderness.”

CLEARING THE WAY TO SINGAPORE

ALLIED MINESWEEPING LONDON, July 30. In a three-day sea and air strike, a task force of the British East Indies Fleet has swept a channel through Japanese minefields off the Malay Peninsula. This is part of the operation of steadily clearing a way towards Singapore. . , Carrier-based aeroplanes attacked Strategic targets on the Kra Isthmus, while'others swept low over roil gets in Siam and shot up airfields ZU miles from Penang. Warships shelled a Jaminese base on Puket Island. Tin* Jaoaiieso offered some air reEisuinca io the fleet's penetration into the area and the" sent up a considerable number ~f dive-bombers. Only a few of these, however, were able to break through the protective screen ot Hellcats which guarded the fleet and three were shot down.

GARRISON STRENGTHENED BY JAPANESE

(Roc, !:?.;.() a.m.) MANILA, July 31. An Armv spokesman has disclosed that the Japanese have reinforced the Bougainville garrison with troops from Shortlancl Island. described the Namauma trail fight as being as tough a s Kokoda. Extradition of Belgian Quisling.—The Belgian Prime Minister (Mr Paul Spaak), replying to questions in the Chamber of Deputies, said that negotiations for the extradition of the quisling leader, de Grelle. front Spain were in Progress. It was the Government s nm intention to get him back to Belgium.—London, July 30.