TOKIO SHAKE-UP

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 125, 22 February 1944, Page 5

TOKIO SHAKE-UP

Tojo As Military Dictator

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

LONDON, February 21. The sweeping American progress in the attacks on the Marshalls and Truk has had severe repercussions iu Tokio. Shortly after the Japanese High Command had admitted heavy losses at Truk, Tokio radio announced that the army and navy chiefs of staff had been sacked and that the Prime Minister, General Tojo, had become military dictator, with complete control over the army. . , The Navy Minister, Admiral Shimada, takes over the position of Naval Chief Jf Staff. He was formerly commander of the Japanese Fleet in the China pea. Tojo already holds the portfolios of War, Education, Commerce a_nd Industry. •He said less than a month ago: Only a hair’s breadth separates final victory and defeat.” The Japanese radio said inatthe changes were aimed at co-ordinating and further enhancing the war effort. The former chiefs of staff have been appointed “supreme military advisers to the empire.”

AIR COVER FOR GREEN ISLAND LANDING

R.N.Z.A.F. Warhawks’ Task

(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.)

BOUGAINVILLE, February 18. R.N.Z.A.F. Warhawks flew over Green Island with American Corsairs and Airacobras to cover the Allied landing. From the air there was no indicatiqji of what might be going on in the jungle and on the shores thousands ot ■feet below. u AVe did not know what the score was down there,” a New Zealand pilot said afterward. Our fighter pilots could see nothing of the troops on the ground, but they saw ships going in and out of openings in the coral reef and pushing their blunt snouts on to the shore to disgorge their cargoes. Natives in canoes inside the lagoon watched 'the invaders. Outside the reef an odd cruiser or destroyer was seen scurrying around to keep an eye on things, ready to paste enemy planes with anti-aircraft fire. Throughout the day, however, the sky was empty of the enemy. There were wild moments earlier in the morning when the Japanese sent over fifteen dive-bombers. They 'were engaged fiercely by the Corsairs; which knocked down six, while three more, fell to the ships' ack-acks. It was a bright, sunny day, and from the air the slender, almost circular, atoll stood out vividly against the blue and green of the coral water. Among the veritable jungle there (were coconut plantations and native villages. The New Zealand pilots think Green Island is prettier than the 'general run of islands in the l area. Our Warhawks were given the southeast portion of the island to patrol, and they were over it backward and forward all day. They received plenty of radio reports of enemy planes in the offing, “trying probably to find out the score,” but none of them closed in. During the day a diversionary raid was made on the Rabaul area by Mitchells. escorted by Lightnings, which shot down nine out of some 50 Zeros encountered.

NEW WEAPON AGAINST RABAUL Airborne Rocket Shells

(Received February 21, 11.15 p.m.) z SIDNEY, February 21.

American torpedo-bombers used airborne rocket shells for the first time Against Rabaul on Thursday. These rockets are described as self-propelled shells with wings which strike with the effect of a small artillery shell. Fifteen Japanese planes were destroyed and three probably destroyed when Allied Solomons-based aircraft again struck at Rabaul on Friday. Liberators and Mitchells, escorted by Corsairs and Lightnings, made the raid, dropping 1'23 tons of bombs on Tobera and Vanukanau aerodromes. A Catalina flying-boat destroyed six barges off Wewak on Saturday. The air activity reported in General MacArthur’s communique today was generally on a lighter scale than for some time past, though the targets attacked ranged from Timor to Bougainville.

SKILL IN COMBAT < R.N.Z.A.F. In Pacific

(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) BOUGAINVILLE, February 18. The determination and skill in combat displayed by officers and men of the R.N.Z.A.F. in the South Pacific were qualities eulogized by the Chief of th» Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal L. M. Jsitt, when he addressed a large group of Nesv Zealand airmen at Bougainville at the conclusion of his tour of R.N.Z.A.F, units in the forward area, He stressed particularly the thoroughness of the ground staff, who, he declared, had eslao lished and maintained a high standat.i of serviceability and maintenance under very difficult aud trying conditions. “I found this same practical approach to problems and the same standard of efficiency and effort in all the units I visited,” said Air Vice-Marshal Isitt “All members of New Zealand aircrews have in their South Pacific operations earned a reputation for reliability and willingness to give it a go. As a result of this spirit, you have almost invariably succeeded. You are all part of Admiral Fitch’s team. It is a fine team, led by a great leader, and the R.N.Z.A.F. is proud to be a member.”

447 JAPANESE SHIPS Record Of U.S. Submarines WASHINGTON, February 20. The Associated. Press says that Unit; ed States submarines have destroyed 447 Japanese ships, probably sunk 36, and damaged 114. One of the two United States submarines which recently returned from patrols in Japanese waters reported sinking 13 enemy merchantmen totalling 62,200 tons, states a Navy Department communique.