JAP. NAVAL DEFEAT

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1944, Page 5

JAP. NAVAL DEFEAT

MORE LOSSES ANNOUNCED

U.S.A. LEADERS* ESTIMATES

“WAR’S END MUCH CLOSER”

(Recd. 9.35 a.m.) WASHINGTON, October 27. American losses in the battle of the ' Philippines totalled six warships, says a Navy announcement. They -were the aircraft carrier Princetan, twq escort carriers, two destroyers and one destroyer escort. The Japanese losses are amended to five cruisers damaged instead of four, making a total of twenty-seven warships sunk or damaged. The Japanese now admit the loss of another aircraftcarrier and destroyer in addition to the loss of a battleship, two cruisers and the destroyer announced by Tokio radio yesterday. The Japanese communique also admits another Japanese carrier was damaged and 126 planes failed to return. Tokio claims to have sunk or damaged eighty-four Allied vesseis. The Tokio radio continues to issue fantastic reports of successes in the Philippines battle. To-day, it said: “Enemy wrecks litter the sea. Ihe Japanese victory has caused great rejoicing in Manila.” Dealing with ground fighting, the radio said: “The Americans on Leyte Island have given up all hope of extending their beachhead as Japanese reinforcements move up in great strength.” Nine Japanese ships are definitely known to have been sunk in the Philippines battle. They are two aircraft carriers, one battleship, five cruisers, and one destroyer. Fifteen to 20 other ships have been damaged. These figures were given by the United States Secretary of the Navy (Mr. Forrestal) in a broadcast address. He estimated that two-thirds of Japan’s battleships have been sunk or damaged in the battle. The commander of the American forces (Vice-Admiral Thomas Kmkaid) described the action as “a complete naval victory of great importance that has brought us that much closer to the end of the war. United States bombers dying from bases in China have joined in the attack on the Japanese warships limping home after the Philippines battle. The Tokio radio admits the loss of an aircraft-carrier and a destroyer in addition to one battleship, two cruisers, and one destroyer previously announced. One aircraft-carrier was damaged, and 126 aeroplanes failed to return.

NEW BLOWS TO BE STRUCK

WASHINGTON, October 27. “At the appropriate time Admiral Nimitz will be able to announce still further damage,” said Mr. Forrestal in his broadcast. “The American fleets will pursue the damaged Japanese ships to the limit of their ability, and do everything within their power to exploit their advantage. The Philippines battle is one of the pivotal actions of the war. New blows will be struck against the Japanese in the near future, and from now on the Japanese at sea, in the air, and on the land are going to be hit plenty and often. . _ LI “We have not escaped in these actions scot free. We, too, have lost ships and suffered other damage. The remaining Japanese ships represent a sizeable force. Many remain afloat more or less damaged, and as we know from experience crippled vessels may be able to reach port, undergo repairs, and come out to fight again.” Mr. Forrestal warned against overoptimism based on the sinking or damaging of “30 odd Japanese warships.” He said that only nine enemy ships so far were definitely known to have been sunk—two aircraft-car-riers, one battleship, five cruisers, and one destroyer. The Associated Press points out, that Mr. Forrestal’s figures presumably are exclusively based on official naval reports in Washington, and do not include all the sinkings reported at the scene.

“We have reduced, temporarily at least, the Japanese navy to a much more unhappy condition than that, which confronted us after Pearl Harbour,” added Mr. Forrestal. “In addition to the loss of two-thirds of her battleships, Japan’s cruiser and destroyer forces will be inadequate for some time. She has suffered temporary or permanent loss of 15 or 20' additional vessels.”

Vice-Admiral Kinkaid at a press conference revealed that American submarines two days before the battle warned that the Japanese fleet was bearing down towards Layte, enabling him to dispose his forces effectively. Vice-Admiral Kinkaid said the light carrier force did an unbelievable job in holding off the Japanese fleet at Samar all morning until help arrvied from the southern carriers early in the afternoon. He added that the northern enemy forces was divided into two groups. The enemy gunnery was inaccurate. General MacArthur announced that heavy Allied bombers damaged one Japanese light cruiser in the Mindanao Sea and also damaged a small freighter in the Gulf of Bone, starting large fires and explosions. ■

“CRIPPLED REMNANTS”

WASHINGTON, October 27

“The crippled remnants of two Japanese naval forces are fleeing westward under full steam with our pursuing carrier aeroplanes inflicting additional damage.” says the United Press correspondent on board ViceAdmiral Kinkaid’s flagship. “The southern enemy force which lost heavily in the Surigao Strait, steamed north at night along the west coast of Leyte, and entered the Camotes Sea this morning, apparently trying to join the northern fleet. The southern "force, originally estimated at 14 or 15 ships, is now composed of one heavy cruiser and five destroyers Wildcats and Avengers attacked it near Zoaol in the middle of the morning with rockets and bombs, severely damaging the cruiser and one destroyer. The northern force, originally estimated at 25 ships, fled into the Visayan Sea, leaving behind three crippled ships—a battleship, a heavy cruiser, and a destroyer.” The Pearl Harbour correspondent of the National Broadcasting Corporation says that five damaged enemy capital ships are in an extremely bad way and possibly have fallen victims to the persistently attacking carrier aeroplanes within recent hours. Navy leaders at headquarters are still receiving fragmentary reports, and were all smiles at the news contained in them.

The correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting System on Leyte says that Navy Hellcat fighters and dive-bombers which’ were unable to return to their carriers during the Philippines battle landed on the halfcompleted Tacloban and Dulag airstrips. Seventy-seven Hellcats land-; ed at Tacloban alone. While there were some accidents, none of the members of the crew were killed. The troops did an amazing job -in preparing the aeroplanes for a quick return to the battle. There were no ground crews to handle the job, and. the pilots themselves directed infaiitry-

men and engineers as they refuelled the aeroplanes, fitted bombs to the racks, and rearmed the guns.

EMPEROR HIROHITO

NEW YORK; October 27. . The Tokio radio in a domestic broadcast said that the. Emperor Hirohito had offered special prayeis at the Yasukuni war shrine in lokio. The radio added that the grave current situation was causing the Emperor a great deal of solicitude. ESTIMATES AND PROSPECTS WASHINGTON, October 27. Naval and military spokesmen m Washington said that although the crushing defeat of the Ja P a nfS e fleet created a crisis lor Japan it would be a mistake to imagine that lemnants of the battered fleet would not fight again or that the end of the Pacific war was in. sight. They P«J>ted out that the remaining enemy shl P s > which were a not inconsiderable number, were in a position to mak more than a nuisance of themselves. If the Japanese used their ships boldly and desperately they could h a y aas American shipping lanes and intel - fere with landing operations. The naval correspondent ol the “New York Times” Hanson Baldwm)t says that possibly a major part of the Japanese fleet, unless it was trapped yesterday or to-day, again escaped annihilation. Probably the, Amreican losses were somewhat heavier tnan was the first impression. The Pearl Harbour correspondent of the “New York Times,” on the other hand, reports that the Japanese navy has been so decisively beaten that it is no longer a major factor to be reckoned with in the immediate American war plans. Such damaged enemy elements which manage to return to their home ports will be only ineffective fragments of the great force sent out to crush the Americans. It will be many months before the Japanese fleet can be repaired and reconstituted as a fighting force. The United States Navy Department disclosed that 23 battleships are now operating with the fleet, at least 16 of them in the Pacific, including the California, Idaho, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, South Dakota, New Mexico, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Washington, New Jersey, Colorado, lowa, Alabama, Mississippi, and Indiana. Two new 27,000-ton super cruisers, the Alaska and the Guam, each 750 feet long, and carrying nine 12-inch guns, are already commissioned.

Hanson Baldwin says that the United States Navy now has almost 100 aircraft-carriers of all types, 60 to 76 heavy and light cruisers, 330 to 360 destroyers, and probably 190 to 230 submarines. In addition, there are vast numbers of destroyer escorts, patrol vessels, minesweepers, and all sorts of small combat vessels. Britain probably has in full or reduced commission 14 battleships, at least 18 large carriers, 50 to 60 escort carriers of various types, probably 60 to 70 cruisers of various types, 275 to 300 destroyers, and 70 to 100 submarines. There are also a large number of small combatant craft. “When the war ends there will be for the first time in modern history only these two great sea Powers,” says Baldwin. “AH the rest of the once great fleets in Europe or Asia have been sunk, damaged. or otherwise dissipated by war.”

AERIAL RAIDS ELSEWHERE

WASHINGTON, October 26

“Escorted heavy aeroplanes bombed Jolo in the Sulu Archipelago." says General MacArthur’s communique. "Patrol aeroplanes damaged four coastal vessels in the Macassar Strait. Attack bombers, fighters, ant. patrol aeroplanes struck at Ambon and Naoles, and oil. installations at Doels. They bombed Cape Chafer aerodrome on the island of Timor, harassing communications. _ “Attack aeroplanes and lighter units hit aerodromes and occupied areas at Geelvink Bay. in McCluer Gulf, New Guinea. starting fires. Enemv fuel and supply dumps at Sarrnf were attacked and fires were started. n n . , . “Medium units and diye-bombers dropped 67 tons of explosives on enemy installations south-easi; ol Kawieng and bivouacs in central LouBainville. Numerous buildings were destroyed and fires started. Patrol planes damaged minor targets on the Gazelle Peninsula. ■ . “Heavy units attacked Ambesia aerodrome at Kendari with 21 tons of bombs, starting fires throughout the target area. Heavy bombers also sank a schooner.”

KURILE ISLANDS RAIDED

WASHINGTON, October 2 i. “Liberators hit gun positions and installations on Onnekotan Island and attacked Paramusir, in the Kuriles on October 23,” says a Pacific Meet communique. “Mitchells bombed buildings on Paramusir and also set fire to a 6000-ton cargo ship south of Paramusir. “Liberators and Venturas on October 24 bombad Paramusir, Matsuwa, and Shimushu. ’

U.S.A. NAVAL STRENGTH

(Rec. 11.45 a.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 27 The United States Navy has over 1,155 combat ships, including 23 battleships, 14 Essex class carriers, nine Independent class carriers, 65 escort carriers of smaller tonnage and also over twice as many destroyers, destroyer escorts and submarines as it had in 1940. These figures were given by the Under-Secretary of the. Navy (Mr. Board) in a speech at a Navy Day dinner in Los Angeles. He said that the Navy also has 45,207 landing-craft, 5,000 smaller vessels and 34,071 aircraft. He added: The Japanese are fighting for a stalemate, to make the cost of the American victories the highest possible. At the same time Japan hopes to convince the United States that a compromise peace is not only possible, but also desirable. Japan’s only hope is to prolong the hostilities as .long as-possible in the belief that a great wave of war weariness will sweep over the United States after Germany’s defeat. The former Ambassador to Tokio (Mr. Grew), addressing a Navy Day dinner at Washington, appealed to intelligent Japanese to read the writing of their inevitable defeat on the wall, and avoid useless sacrifice and wholesale devastation by submitting now to unconditional surrender. At the same time he warned Americans to be on their guard against premature enticing of a compromise peace offer from Japan’s industrialists, who will attempt to save something from the wreckage. “If we allow ourselves to relax our present determination to render the Japanese impotent, our descendants will again face a threat to world peace.”

PACIFIC STRATEGY.

CAPT. FALLS’ REVIEW.

LONDON, October 27. “The invasion of the Philippines appears to .have been begun under good auspices, but the task ahead is by.no means to be underrated,” says the well-known military commentator, Captain Cyril Falls, writing in the London “Illustrated News.” “There are believed to be 250,000 Japanese troops in the islands • and although the American command of sea and air may prevent any considerable number of them reaching Leyte, the problem of disposing of the great garrisons of Luzon and Mindanao will be by no means easy. It is possible, that there is also a considerable Japanese force on the island of Samar. . , , ~ “This expedition, although bolder than any of those which preceded it, is typical of the whole series of operations carried out in the Pacific where the Americans have seized from the enemy all the vital points such as anchorages and landing grounds and often leave a large proportion of the garrison to be softened by exposure and shortage t>£ drugs, and perhaps even food, until it can be more easily mopped up. It should be recognised that this strategy must encounter new difficulties as it progresses. The advance has now reached areas where the Japanese garrisons are larger and probably better and areas which are closer to Japan itself or to the Chinese coastline, so that the possibilities of shipping supplies into them arcgreater. “It is not possible to estimate whether there is any likelihood. of continuing this strategy in the Philippines themselves, going on to other objectives while, say, the garrison of Luzon remains unsubdued. If it should be found necessary to deal with that garrison first, then the task will be a very tough one, and even if the new move leads to the severance of the sea routes between Japan and the Netherlands East Indies, 1 think it would be a mistake to suppose that the Japanese forces there can be ‘left to rot.’ “Java is a very different sort of island from Bougainville. If the Japanese garrison of Java were not dealt with it would probably be there five years hence, even if it had no communication with the home country. INVASION OF JAPAN. “This problem becomes even more acute on the Asiatic continent. There the Japanese are pretty firmly consolidated. They have a very large, virtually independent army in Manchukuo. They have got going heavy industries based on Shansi coalfield and are turning out war material from them. Who is to put an end to their continental power? It may prove actually easier to bring resistance to an end in Japan itself than to finish it in China. The islands of Japan might be subdued by a ‘base hopping’ strategy, but the Japanese garrisons in China cannot be. It would be rash to suppose that this great series of campaigns can be carried out more or less automatically' or without large-scale fighting on land and sea and in the air at some stage of their course. It is possible that the next stage may take the form of an advance on the west from New Guinea towards the Netherlands East Indies, in which case the land forces may be mainly American, but that is pure speculation.” 4. ■ Commenting on Burma, Captain Falls says that the monsoon will end shortly on higher ground. The wet weather campaign has been more active and generally more successful than most observers would have expected. The Japanese have been toiled in all their plans and have suffered serious loss. “Communication with China has been protected and improved, and the way seems open for the complete conquest of North Burma in dry weather,” adds Captain Falls. ’With American hopes fading of training and equipping a large Chinese army to stand up to the Japanese in its own country I except and hope we will proceed with operations in South-east Asia by combined operations With the possibility that Admiral Mountbatten may be able to range far afield, he might recover Rangoon and initiate a campaign between Rangoon and Singapore more or less on the lines of those carried out in the Pacific, moving south while the Australian offensive suggested moved west from New Guinea."

CANADIAN CONTRIBUTION

OTTAWA, October 27. , “The size and nature of Canada’s oarticipation in the Pacific war is at present under study by I lie Govern- ” «ays the Canadian Press. “However,'based on isolated official statements, it is understood that Canada plans no general concentration in the Pacific until the European was has ended. All members of ihe service. l ; participating will be volunteers. Most will reiuiti to Canada far leave before continuing to Hie Pacific. The Canadian, forces will closely co-operate with ihe British! under United States combined com- 1 mand. They will enter tne conflict I via the North Pacific and not the, Mediterranean. Onc-tlni-d of Canada s naval strength will participate, possibly 350 ships, including twoj cruisers, carriers iiiid destroyers, s Canada will furnish ;nt army division,i possibly the reconstituted T't Divi-j sion now in Italy, and also one-thirdj of the Royal Canadian Air Force's 45 j squadrons.” j BRITISH EQUIPMENT. j LONDON, October 27. It was not generally realised what I a large shift to new types of pro-I duction was going on in Britain toj seal the doom of Japan, declared the’ Parliamentary Secretary to the Min-! istry of Production (Mr, Garroi Jones). Amongst equipment special-i iy designed to withstand heat and ’ humidity being produced for the Fart East campaign were new amphibian! and landing craft, lighter weapons, af wider range of new radio equipment,? vast quantities of special clothing, I and medical stores. BRAZIL'S CONCESSION i (Rec. 10.40 a.m.) I NEW YORK, October 27. The “Herald-Tribune’s” Rio de Janeiro correspondent learns that the Brazilian Government has formally agreed to permit the United States the use of its naval and air bases in Northern Brazil for the prosecution of the war against Japan.

AUSTRALIAN’S ENTERPRISE

(Rec. 10.35) NEW YORK. Oct. 27. Nearly 30 months ago a P.T. boat officer, I. Richardson, missed the last plane from the Philippines for Australia by three, days. A party of 12 men tried to sail a small boat to Australia, but it capsized. Since then Richardson helped the guerrillas to kill and wound 800 Japanese. This report is cabled by the Associated Press correspondent at Leyte. Richardson also assisted in secretly building radio stations on many Philippine Islands, which were responsible for the sinking of many Japanese ships. Richardson was amazed that his handmade radio

stations worked. He made almost everything, even winding his own transformers, but they were clearlv picked up in Australia.