CONVERGENCE OF FLEETS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 22, 20 October 1944, Page 5

CONVERGENCE OF FLEETS

Pacific Operations JAPANESE DRINK TO “VICTORY”

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received October 10, 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 18.

A Tokio broadcast picked up by the National Broadcasting Corporation reported that the American Fleet, now operating 3SO miles east of Formosa, has joined, up with two other naval forces. Tokio radio also said that in commemoration of the great Japanese naval victory at T i 'ormosa extra and large rations of “sake” (distilled rice) will be issued to all the Emperor’s subjects. “The navy has accumulated such tremendoug might in the western Pacific that either the Third or . Fifth Fleet could take on any part or all of the Japanese Navy,” said the Navy Secretary, Mr. Forrestal. “In the operations from October 9 to 15, Japanese Fleet units came within air reconnaissance of our Fleet, but evidently decided the time to fight had not yet come.” Mr. Forrestal, however, pointed out that Japan’s naval force has a potential effectiveness far beyond its mere numbers, because it can now operate under landrbased cover in its own, waters. Almost 1000 Planes Destroyed.

A reassessment of the plane losses inflicted on the enemy shows that during the seven-day period, October 9 to 10, carrier aircraft destroyed 915 Japanese planes. Of this number 350 were destroyed on the ground, and 565 shot down in the Ryuku-Formosa-Luzon area, says the Pacific Fleet communique. Of those shot, down 269 were over targets and 256 in the vicinity of our fleet. Forty were brought down by anti-aircraft. fire. Based on more complete information, the following damage was inflicted on enemy shipping in Formosa by our carrier aircraft on October 11 (these Josses arc in addition to those reported in Pacific Fleet communiques) : Sunk, three cargo ships, two coastal cargo ships, and 34 small eraft; probably sunk, one large cargo ship, one oil tanker, three medium cargo ships, five coastal cargo ships, one minelayer, and two escort vessels; damaged. seven small cargo ships, 11 coastal cargo ships, one oil tanker, and 34 small craft. The United States forces lost 21 planes. Hugo Enemy Losses. Mr. Forrestal disclosed that the Third and Fifth Fleets have destroyed 30S0 Japanese planes, and sunk or damaged 905 Japanese ships since .early in June, says a Washington message. He added that the accumulation of sea and air blows was steadily and relentlessly “crowding the Jap back into bis own corner.” Eventually, the Japanese fleet must stand and fight, he said. Mr. Forrestal described the operations of the past fortnight as “the opening move in unremitting pressure to be applied against Japan in the western Pacific.” The United States was building up a tremendous volume of power. United States submarines have reported the sinking of 32 more Japanese vessels in the Pacific in the Far East, states a U.S. Navy Department communique. The communique says that the ships were three destroyers, one minelayer, three escort vessels, one large, three medium. and three small cargo transports, one medumi tanker, one medium naval auxiliary, 12 medium, and four small cargo vessels. Tokio radio staled that SO carrierborne planes raided Manila in three waves this morning. Other planes raided Clark Field and Legaspi. The radio claimed (hat the American task force was still fleeing from Formosa, “towing crippled ships through an oilcovered sea.”

A supplementary report of the attack on Hong Kong issued in Chungking shows that the enemy suffered a heavier blow than the first figures indicated. General Stilwell's communique says that eight enemy ships, totalling 40,000 tons, were sunk, that seven ships, totalling 23,000 tons, were damaged, and live other vessels probably damaged.