INLAND SEA BATTLE

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 March 1945, Page 5

INLAND SEA BATTLE

JAP. LOSSES DISASTROUS

' FLEET-NOW NEGLIGIBLE

NEW YORK, March 21. Aircraft from a United States naval task force struck a crippling blow at the remainder of the Japanese navy in its home bases in the Inland Sea (bounded by the metropolitan islands of Honshu, Skikoku, and Kyushu). A preliminary estimate of the damage done to the enemy lists one battleship.as.sunk, one as possibly sunk, 14 other warships as damaged, 475 aircraft as destroyed, and many other aircraft damaged. The final figures may be higher. More of the major enemy units may' have been sunk. Among the ships damaged or sunk was a 45,000-ton battleship of the new Yamata class. A United States Navy spokesman at Washington said American carriers would make further attacks to finish off the crippled ships and destroy other enemy vessels. “After a day., of destructive attacks against the enemy air force on Kyushu, Vice-Admiral Marc Mitscher’s fast carrier task force moved north-eastward and attacked the principal .units of the Japanese fleet m its home bases in the inland sea yesterday,” says Admiral Nimitz s communique. “Crippling damage was inflicted on the Japanese fleet, and many Japanese aircralt were destroyed. “A preliminary report from RearAdmiral R. A. Spruance, commander of the sth Fleet, who is in tactical command of the forces engaged, shows the following damage inflicted during two .days’ fighting:— . Two hundred and two aircraft shot down, 275 destroyed on the ground, and more than 100 damaged in the first day’s attack. A large number damaged in the second day’s attack. Ships Sunk: Six small freighters. One or two battleships. Ships Damaged: Two or three carriers, two light carriers or escort carriers, two escort carriers, one cruiser, one light cruiser, four destroyers, one submarine, one destroyer escort, seven freighters. _ “A large number of installations, including hangars, shops, arsenals, ana oil storage facilities were destroyed. “Our aircraft combat losses were extremely light. The enemy made many air attacks, but none of our ships was lost. One, seriously damaged, is returning to port under its own power. A few others received minor damage, but are fully, operational.” . “More than 1000 aircraft participated in the attacks which smashed Japan’s hope of rebuilding her crippled air force and fleet,” says a United Press correspondent. “In addition, a dozen airfields of the air force training defence programme were wrecked.”

The Associated Press correspondent aboard Vice-Admiral Mitscher’s flagship says returning pilots said antiaircraft fire was more- troublesome than the enemy air force. Most of the American losses were due to flak “heavy enough to walk on.” One squadron was not opposed by a single Japanese aeroplane. “'Most of the Japanese fleet was caught within the Inland Sea and sent scurrying to seek shelter,” says the Associated Press correspondent. “Enemy aircraft repeatedly attacked Vice-Admiral Mitscher’s warships, but most were shot down without their inflicting damage. It was the first time a Japanese fleet has been hit in home waters. This bold exploit undoubtedly means the erasure of the Imperial fleet as a source of opposition in future.” ONLY TWISTED SHELLS (Rec. noon.) WASHINGTON, March 21. Many Japanese warships were sc badly ■ damaged in the inland sea battle that only twisted shells remained, according to reports tc Headquarters on Guam to-day, says the United Press correspondent. He adds: It is possible that the carriers were the last ones the Japanese Navy had in service. MACARTHUR’S OPERATIONS PANAY AND LUZON WASHINGTON, March 20. “The 40th Division, taking full advantage of the enemy’s confusion on Panay, drove rapidly eastward seven miles into the outskirts of Iloilo and captured the aerodrome and Carpenter’s bridge over the Iloilo River,” says General MacArthur’s communique. “Other 40th Division columns simultaneously drove northward 25 miles, over-ran the coastal plain inland from Iloilo-, captured Janiuay, Pototan, Barotac, and Neuevo towns and made contact with strong guerrilla forces. The enemy is apparently burning Iloilo. “Our aircraft bombed bivouacs and supply installations at Pangdan in eastern Cebu, and positions to the north. They made craters in runways on Negros aerodromes, destroying two parked aeroplanes. “Guerrillas captured San Fernando in northern Luzon destroying the garrison. San Fernando, the principal harbour on the Lingayen Gulf’s east shore is linked by highway and railway with the central plain. Simultaneously 33,rd Division elements drove northwards on the Lingayen coast 10 miles from Aringay, and seized Bauang, six miles south of San Fernando. They captured and saved two large bridges which had been prepared for demolition. “Other units, pushing northward on the Kennon mountain road, captured Camp 3. The 6th and 43rd Divisions continued their rapid drive into the secondary defences and captured Panay. Elements to the north are approaching Mount Baytangan, three miles north-west of Bosoboso. The 11th Air-borne Division captured San Jose Hill, on the western slopes of Mount Macolod, near Cuenca. ,Our aircraft swept north Luzon. “The 41st Division repulsed a night attack north of San Roque and Zamboanga. Next day they expanded their positions into the hills to the north against lessening resistance. “We occupied Isabela, on Basilan island (off the coast of Mindanao, opposite Zamboanga) by a combined overland and amphibious movement, and now control Basilan Island. “Our aircraft struck at air bases in north-western Formosa. They destroyed or damaged five small craft in the China Sea. At night they attacked a convoy east of Swatow, damaging a 10,000-ton tanker. They hit targets in the Celebes and Moluccas. Heavy bombers hit artillery positions and supply areas northwest of Daeua airfield in the Wewak sector. Medium bombers and fighters attacked installations near Rabaul and Kawieng, and on Bougainville.” PANAY~CAPITAL WASHINGTON, March 21. General MacArthur announced that Iloilo was captured and the Japanese garrison routed. Except for minor pockets all organised resistance on Panay has been crushed. The docks at Iloilo are safe and the harbour area clear.

MACARTHUR AS COMMANDER. I • NEW YORK, March 20. I General MacArthur is expected to I visit the United States before or durling the San Francisco conference to I confer with Mr. Roosevelt.’ General Marshall, and Admiral King, say Washington reports. The talks naturally would be on the strategy for the final drive against Japan. ' . An important section of the American Press is campaigning for an early visit bv General MacArthur now that he has fulfilled his promise to reconquer the Philippines. It is emphasised that General MacArthur is the only ranking Pacific commander who has not yet returned to Washington for conferences which have been going on for the last three week. Admiral Nimitz, Admiral Halsey, Lieutenant-General Wedemeyer, Major-General Hurley, and a score of lesser officers have arrived in Washington by air in a steady stream and have conferred secretly at White House. ■ ' The unofficial but authoritative “Army and Navy Journal” says: “One prominent figure absent from W ash-, ington was General MacArthur. As he bulks too largely in American and Dominion eyes to be disregarded in planning the proposed reduction of Japan, it is assumed he will be ordered to the capital to present his views as soon as he has crushed organised resistance in the Philippines.” . The “Washington Post,” in a leading article, says: “The sooner the question of command is settled the sooner decisive action against Japan can begin. No one would inspire greater public confidence than General MacArthur. The very announcement of his appointment would hasten the end of the war. It would strike terror into Japanese hearts, which are downcast over the way General MacArthur outfoxed and humbled the redoubtable andboastful General Yamashita. It would inspire our own forces. They know General MacArthur as a man who fights with him brains in order to save their lives.” JAP. AERIAL~WEAKNESS. WASHINGTON, March 20. “The Japanese have lost at least 10,000' aeroplanes in combat since September 1, 1944,” said LieutenantGeneral G. C. Kenney, commander of Allied Air Forces in the South-west Pacific, at a Press conference. He added: “The Japanese air strength has slumped to a point where our kids are getting kind of discouraged.” He said Superfortresses met only one-third of the air opposition. expected on Japan’s mainland. He said the Japanese air force was suffering from a lack of replacement of men and aeroplanes, and expressed the opinion that the Japanese air force was not a threat any more. “They must be having trouble with aeroplane production,” he said. “Moreover, their pilots are not good, and there are not enough to fly aeroplanes, even if someone gave them the aircraft. In addition, the Japanese do not possess good maintenance mechanics; they are marooned around Rabaul somewnere.” ’ • ’

Lieutenant-General Kenney said the Japanese had a pretty good plan for Luzon’s defence, but they put it back in the files when there' was no supporting air power. He estimated that about 3000 Japanese aeroplanes littered Luzon’s fields, jungles, and ricefields. He added: “It’s quite a sight to see all thosp heaps of enemy junk.” iwcTjima WASHINGTON, March 20. Admiral Nimitz, in a communique stated: Mopping up operations continue on Iwo Jima Island. Liberators bombed the airfield at Chichi Jima on Monday, causing explosions and large ■ fires. Other aircraft bombed a town on Yap, and continued attacks in the Marshalls. Tokio radio admitted that all contact had been lost with Iwo Jima since a message was sent from there four days ago, reporting that Japanese forces, with the Supreme Command leading, carried out a brave and gallant plunge into the enemy’s midst, shouting and praying for long life of the Emperor, kind for peace and longevity of the nation. KOISO’S LAMENT NEW YORK, March 21. The Tokio radio quotes Premier Koiso as saying in a broadcast that Iwo Jima’s loss was a heavy blow and the going in future would not be easy. “If we do not rise up now in burning anger when shall we do so 9 ” Koiso reiterated that there was great possibility of an American landing on the homeland. He warned his listeners that there was only one choice—victory or death. Koiso said: So long as one Japanese remains alive, we must fight and fight to shatter the enemy’s ambitions. There will be no unconditional surrender. The Domei Agency commenting on the loss of Iwo Jima said: An important barrier has been given up to the enemy. CASUALTIES CURED NEW"YORK, March 21. Ninety-eight per cent, of the sailors and Marines wounded in the oast three years have recovered and 75 per cent, of the Marines have returned to active combat duties, said Mr Forrestal, speaking at a Red Cross luncheon. He added: It - was lasy to speak of the losses on Iwo Jima as being 1ft,900, forgetting that 15,300 of that total were wounded. of whom 7000 had returned to their divisions before the fall of Iwo Jima. - / T ‘ JAPANESE PREPARATIONS i NEWYORK, March 21. Tokio radio stated: Three, thousand Tokio homes will be dismantled and remodelled into semi-underground air-raid shelters for people remaining in the capital. Eighty vacant areas throughout the city will be cleared for fire breaks. Officials are rushing plans to move the war industries underground. The War Minister, giving: an account of defence preparations in the Diet, said it was clear Japan would be -a theatre of war in the decisive stage of the fighting. i CHILEAN ALLEGATION (Rec. noon.) SANTIAGO, March 21. The Chilean newspaper, “Hora,” said that Axis sabotage was responsible for fires on three Chilean ships recently, causing the loss of 101, lives. The paper instanced the passenger and cargo, ship, Mapocho, set on fire after leaving the port of Iquique, and also the Navy -training, ship, Lautorcr, and the merchantman, Maguilan. The Associated Press points out that the port of Iquique has long been a centre of Japanese activity The Mapocho disaster showed a I “shocking similarity to that of the Lautaro.”