TOKIO ADMITS AIR RAID

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 174, 20 April 1942, Page 5

TOKIO ADMITS AIR RAID

Heavy Attack Indicated

OTHER CITIES ALSO HIT

Allied Elation

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.)

(Received April 19, 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, April 19. An air attack was made on Tokio early yesterday afternoon, Japanese time, according to a broadcast from Tokio which was picked up in San Francisco. There has been no confirmation yet of such a raid by any of the Allied nations. Tokio said that though bombers wrought telling damage to schools and hospitals no damage to military establishments was done. The attack was made on industrial areas. . . Tokio radio, quoting an announcement from the Imperial Headquarters, said that hostile planes also bombed Yokohama, Nagoya and Kobe. , . If the news of the raid is correct, it will .have been the first attack on the Japanese capital since the beginning of the war The German-controlled Oslo wireless reported from lokio that the attack on the capital lasted for seven hours and said that according to unconfirmed reports an American aircraft-carrier was seen off the coast of Japan. Washington is greatly elated by the reports of the bombing, which, according to the general opinion, indicates that the Allies have taken the initiative against the Japanese. Leading members of Congress declare that the attack is the beginning of an Allied offensive. The New York •‘ , Herald-Tribune” warns the warlords of Tokio, stating: “Gentlemen, it is only the beginning!” The Chungking correspondent of the United Press of America reports that the news of the bombing of Tokio has caused rejoicing by Chungking’s populace. The city was thrown into the greatest uproar of excitement since the outbreak of the war. The American War and Navy Departments had no immediate confirmation of the bombing of Tokio, and there is no indication of when a communique might be issued. However, it is pointed out that if the bombings were a long-distance attack the aircraft would be many hours in returning to the starting point, and reports would not be available till then. . The Chungking correspondent of the Associated Kress ot America says he has learned from an authoritative source that the raids against Japan were not made from Chinese bases. The Tokio Press today tells its public that they must be on the alert against further air attacks.