SMASHING JAPAN

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 July 1945, Page 5

SMASHING JAPAN

MAJOR BASES ATTACKED PLANES AND WARSHIPS’ HAVOC ENEMY LOSSES HEAVY

• GUAM, July 25. Japanese warships in the Inland Sea of Japan, and military targets in and around the ports ol Kure and Kobe were attacked to-day, the second day in succession, by carrierborne aircraft of the British Pacific Fleet and the United States Pacific ' Fleet. It is estimated that 1200 aircraft took part in the operations. The latest communique from Admiral Nimitz’s headquarters also reports a naval bombardment of the southern coast of Honshu. The communique says: “Cruisers and destroyers of the 3rd Fleet bombarded the Kushimoto seaplane base, the Shionomizaki airfield and radio station, and other military installations in the vicinity of Kushimoto, the southernmost tip of Honshu, early to-day. While approaching the coast for this bombardment, the force, which is under the immediate tactical command of Rear-Admiral J. C. Jones, sank a small vessel, probably a picquet boat." . , , Dealing with yesterday’s assault, Admiral Nimitz’s communique says:— “British and American planes yesterday attacked combatant merchant shipping, airfield installations, and other military targets in the area extending from northern Kyushu through the Inland Sea to Nagoya. Preliminary reports ol the early strikes yesterday show that American aircraft shot down eight enemy planes, destroyed 11 and damaged 20 on the ground. The following damage was inflicted on combatant vessels in the vicinity of Kure:—The heavy cruiser Tone (8500 tons) and the light cruiser Oyodo were left burning badly. Two Ise class battleships (29,990 tons), the heavy cruiser Aoba, and a large aircraft-carrier were damaged. “British aircraft inflicted the following damage in the early strikes yesterday: Twelve aircraft were destroyed and 13- damaged on the ground and in the water. A Kobe type of escort aircraft-carrier was damaged northwards of Takamatsu, in Shikoku, and two freighters were damaged near Suta, on the coast of Shikoku. One small cargo vessel, three luggers, and four junks were sunk. “Search privateers shot down two enemy aircraft, sank two small freighters, set on fire two small freighters in sweeps in the Tsushima Saraits on Monday. A small cargo ship was sunk and another heavily damaged off the eastern coast of Honshu, near Sendai, on Monday. Search aircraft sank a small cargo ship.” The Japanese battleships Ise and Hyuga, damaged in the carrier strike against Kure, are 30 years old. The vessels were recently converted into •semi-carriers, with flight decks at the stern. Presumably neither was seaworthy at the time of the attack, ’ since earlier dispatches indicated that only one Japanese capital ship —evidently the Haruna—remained useable after the Nagato hit. The 20th Air Force has reported that seven industrial targets in the Osaka and Nagoya area were heavily damaged in yesterday’s Superfortress assault, in which 625 planes unloaded almost 4000 tons of demolition’ bombs. One plane was lost, and 180 Superfortresses landed , on Iwo Jima en route to home because of battle damage or low fuel. The pilots said the flak at Osaka was the heaviest ever seen, although air opposition was almost negligible. EXTENT OF DAMAGE. (Rec. 2.5 p.m.) GUAM, July 25. Admiral Nimitz announced that Tuesday’s carrier strike at Kobe and the Inland Sea damaged 18 Japanese warships, including five carriers, five cruisers and three battleships. The figures include the preliminary number cabled yesterday. OIL REFINERY BOMBED (Rec. 12.40 p.m7)~GUAM, July 25. About 75 Superfortresses attacked the Mitsubishi oil refinery, the Hayama petroleum refinery and the Asaishi Oil Company, all near Kawasaki, 10 miles south of Tokio, at; midnight to-night. It was the second strike within 36 hours. Tokio radio says that American warships bombarded Kanagawa this morning. Two hundred carrier planes attacked Hokkaido to-day and others I hit communications and anrfields in Honshu. MACARTHUR TO COMMAND INVASION PREPARATIONS (Rec. 11 a.m.) NEW YORK, July 25. It is believed that the Joint Chiefs' of Staff have decided to appoint: General MacArthur as Supreme I Commander of the invasion forces, against Japan, says the Washington correspondent of the “Christian 1 Science Monitor.” Despite the current barrage of peace-feeler headlines and talk of defining unconditional surrender, the firm military and governmental opinion in Washington is that the final stage of the Pacific war—the invasion of the’ Japanese home islands—is in the making. It is considered likely that the prospect has passed of the Jap-1 anese offering acceptable peace terms' or of the Allies defining surrender terms acceptable voluntarily by Tokio, and that-massive preparations [ for invasion are now well advanced.: The Japanese are believed to be hoarding their air’force to resist, invasion to the last, and also planning a new defensive strategy on Asia’s mainland. A Manila message says: American air forces arc about ready to hit Japan with 5000-ton raids, said General Kenney, at a Press conference. In the very near future more than 5000 planes will be available for a concentrated aerial smash against Japan. “I confidently expect when we land we will find almost a total lack of opposition on the beaches, the same as in New Guinea and the Philippines.” General Kenney declared there was no place in the Japanese Empire which cannot be reached by Allied air power. “There is nothing out of bounds for American airmen, and that goes for the Emperor's Palace as far as I’m concerned.” AIR FORCE COMMANDERS WASHINGTON, July 24. Lieutenant-General I. C. Eaker, Deputy-Commanding General of the United States Army Air Forces, has announced that Lieutenant-General N. F. Twining will become Commander of the 20th Air Force on August 1. The present commander, Major•Gencral C. E. le May, will become Chief o+' the Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific. Lieutenant-General Eaker said Ma-jor-General- le May had been appointed chief of staff at the personal reciuest of General C. Spaatz, who will direct the Army’s air operations against Japan. The Superfortresses based in the Marianas are in the 20th Air Force. HALSEY’S ESTIMATE NEW YORK, July 25. Admiral Halsey, broadcasting from the flagship off Japan, said: The Paci-

|fic Fleet has opened a new phase of [naval warfare, the final plunge into the heart of Japan. I said after the battle of Leyte Gulf that the Japanese .Fleet was beaten, routed and broken. ' Nothing has happened since to change .my opinion and what is left of the ;Japanese Navy is helpless. But just 'for good luck, we will hunt them out jof their holes. Carriers have already wrought most unbelievable destruction upon enemy shipping, industry, ‘and transportation in the northern I part of the empire. If the Japanese I do not know they are a doomed nation they are even more stupid than I think they are. My only regret is 'that ships do not have wheels, so that we could chase them inland after we drive them from the coast. BRITISH CARRIERS NEW YORK, July 25. Admiral Sir * James Somerville, head of a British Admiralty delegation to the United States, told ah Associated Press correspondent that heavily armed British carriers, built to combat land-based planes in European waters, were proving their worth against Kamikazes in the Pacific. He said: “Britain is sending topnotchers to the Pacific. We are deter- ' mined to go after the Japanese. After i all there is the question of territory, i seventy-five thousand British prisoners, and old scores to pay off. While a I single command was set up and used in the European theatre, it is impossible at present in the Pacific. It will not be impossible in the future however. 1 SUGGESTED TERMS NEW YORK, July 25. The “New York Times” in an editorial, commented on suggested peace terms for Japan, under which the Emperor would be retained without Allied military occupation, says: Under these terms the whole political and economic structure, headed by the Emperor, which goes even deeper than Nazism, and is just as dangerous to us, would be left untouched. The whole procedure for disarming a treacherous, implacable foe would be left to a control commission with no military occupation to back it up. Such terms, we believe, fall short of the minimum for peace in the Pacific. JAP. REVOLT PREDICTED WASHINGTON, July 24. Rear-Admiral T. L. Gatch, judge advocate general of the United States Navy, in a speech said:— “The theory that the Emperor is God to the Japanese is pure bunk. We will soon see just how venerated he is. I am certain he will die like Mussolini, but it is the Samurai, comprising 300,000 military leaders, who must be destroyed. I do not think we will have to do the job. The Japanese people will rise in one of the bloodiest revolutions in the history of Japan.” JAP. OFFER TO RUSSIA (Reed. 1.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 25. According to the magazine “Newsweek” Mr. Stalin took the Japanese peace offer to Potsdam conference. As the price of Russian non-interven-tion, the Japanese offered to withdraw from Manchuria in favour of. Russia, and also offered to recognise the principle of independence of Indo China, Burma and the Philippines, and submit to the American occupation of Korea and Formosa, on the sole condition that Japanese home islands should not be invaded or occupied. “Newsweek** says: Mr. Wider Bagge who is retiring as Swedish Minister to Japan, transmitted to Washington last May a Japanese request (or clarification of the unconditional surrender formula. Mr. Bagg-e’s action was the peace-feeler referred to by Mr. Grew on July 10. AUSSIES IN BORNEO "SYDNEY, July 25. Driving northward from Balikpapan Bay, Borneo, troops of the 7tli Australian Division have advanced two more miles along the highway toward the great oil centre of Samarinda. “The main body ol the enemy here is on the run, and the only opposition the Australians met was sporadic sniper fire,” says the Sydney "Sun’s" war correspondent. “The Japanese defences in the Mount Batochampar area, just north of Balikpapan, have been completely overrun. “Ninth Division troops in Bruei Bay are still engaged in intensive patrolling without meeting any organised resistance. "Sporadic Japanese attacks against R.A.A.F. men repairing the Sepinggen airstrip. Balikpapan, have failed to delay the work. Armed with grenades, four Japanese made a desperate night attack on one group of bulldozers and graders, but were killed before doing any damage. Under floodlights, at night, the bulldozers and graders present an excellent target for snipers, and several have been struck by bullets, but no serious damage has been caused. The majority of the men in the construction squadrons arc veterans of New Guinea, Biak and Morotai, and are not perturbed by the Japanese nuisance tactics. The airstrip, just under 5000 feet long, is being extended to 7000 feet. Thousands of R.A.A.F. men, with modern earth-moving equipment, arc toiling day and night to complete the task." CHINESE NEED ARMS (Rec. 11 a.m.) CHUNGKING, ’July 25. To carry out any sustained general offensive, China needed many times the weapons that the United States at present is providing, said General W. T. Chen, the new Deputy Chief of Staff of the Chinese Field Forces. He added that despite transport difficulties, more could be brought in,. Additional medical and engineering help was also needed. The Chinese have not used a single piece of American equipment for the capture of Nanning and Liuchow, and the current drive on Kweilin. HANSHAW~CAPTURED (Recd. 1.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING, July 25. Chinese troops, apparently attempting to reach the Yangtze to disrupt river traffic, captured Hanshaw, forty-eight miles from Nanking, the nerve centre of the Japanese military and political control in China, says an Associated Press correspondent. Press despatches report a constant [movement of Japanese troops down | the Yangtze River, by night, from Hankow to Nanking and to Shanghai. Other Chinese forces sweeping toward Kweilin crashed through the gates of the walled city of Yangso, where a swaying street battle with the Japanese garrison was going on. ATTACK ON SINGAPORE j (Rec. 12.40 p.mj LONDON, July 25. Mr Churchill has summoned Lord Mountbatten to London for talks on the pre-invasion phase of the

war against Japan, says Frederick Kuh, correspondent of the American newspaper “P.M.” He adds •that the British-Australian campaign, designed to recapture Singapore and Malaya, is expected to begin in October. The attack on Singapore will be made by the Australians from the East and the British forces of Lord Mountbatten’s Command from the west.

The correspondent adds that if Russia declares war on Japan, the Pacific strategy will be completely changed, and commands will be adjusted. The only Pacific Commander able to work effectively with Russia would be Admiral Nimitz, whose (command approaches Vladivostock, Operations under Admiral Nimitz, MacArthur and Mountbatten are now closely interwoven. Lord Mountbatten will report to Mr Churchill on his recent conference with General MacArthur. LORD MOUNTBATTEN (Rec. 12.20 p.m.FLONDON, July 25. It was announced from 10 Downing Street that Lord Mountbatten had arrived by air Trom Potsdam, after participating in a conference with the combined Chiefs of Staff and in discussions with President Truman, Marshal Stalin and Mr Churchill. The three Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, Marshal Sir Alan Brooke and Air Marshal Sir Charles Portal, arrived from Berlin in a York, followed by Marshal Alexander in a Dakota. Mr. Churchill dropped a “Pacific bombshell,” when, after returning from Berlin, he announced that Lord Mountbatten had been at Potsdam and conferred with the Big Three. The disclosure, says the “Daily Express's” diplomatic correspondent, is the first official indication that Mr. Stalin had discussed the conduct of Far East affairs with Mr. Churchill and Mr. Truman. At the previous Big Three conferences Mr. Stalin each time withdrew when the conduct of the war against Japan was being discussed, because Russia was still at peace with Japan. Il can be assumed, since the British Chiefs of Staff also returned with Mr. Churchill, that discussions with Lord Louis on Far East affairs will be continued. BRITAIN’S “SECOND ELEVEN” (Rec. 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, July 25. At a Press conference at San Francisco, Admiral Somerville said that all of Britain’s greatest battleships cruisers and carriers were now fighting in the Pacific with the American Fleet. “Our second eleven is in Burma waters fighting a much bigger war than most people think.” BOUGAINVILLE PROGRESS "SYDNEY, July 25. With the Bougainville campaign nearing its climax Australian troops have cleared the last of the Japanese from Choiseul Island, sealed off a large body of Japanese troops in north Bougainville, and laid siege to Ruin, the “double fortress” area in the south. These developments, after nine months’ fighting, mark the beginning of the end of a campaign which the Army Department, in a review to-day, said had “brought new battle honours to Australian troops and established new standards in jungle warfare.” The message reporting the clearing of Choiseul, a 12,000 square mile island south-east of Bougainville, was brief —“Choiseul is safe for democracy”—and came from the leader of the small force which has been harrying the enemy there lor months. Mainly because he needed troops for his Buin fortress, but no doubt encouraged by Australian ground and Royal New Zealand Air Force air attacks, the enemy withdrew the last of his garrison a fortnight ago, leaving hundreds of dead along the island’s swampy coastline. Meanwhile, Australian troops on the Mivo front are facing the outer defences of Buin, the “double fortress,” where th? main battle for Bougainville will be fought. Since taking over from the Americans last November, the Australian troops in Bougainville have regained control of 3000 square miles of territory held by Australia under mandate since 1918. They have freed 10,000 natives and killed 6000 Japanese. Uncounted thousands of Japanese have also died in bombing attacks and from wounds and sickness. JAP. FORCE IN BOUGAINVILLE (Rec. 1.20 p.m.) MANILA, July 25. Describing how the Australians arc waging savage warfare on the almost forgotten Bougainville front, the Associated Press correspondent says that the trapped Japanese there are surprisingly well fed and full of fight. The Japanese plan of conquest selected Bougainville as the key jumping off base for an invasion of Australia and New Zealand, via the Solomons. Before the severance of their communication lines, the Japanese concentrated huge stockpiles of war supplies in the Buin area. Lieut.-General Savige’s Second Australian Corps, last Autumn took over the job of footing out the Japanese on Bougainville. li. is estimated that 17,000 Japanese remain under the wily Lieut.->General Kanda, commanding the remnants oi the. Seventeenth Japanese. Army. They have more than 150 four inch artillery guns, and an abundant quantity of 75 millimetre dual purpose guns, which can be used devastatingly against the tanks. The Australians have reached the garden area where Kanda must make his last stand. He cannot go further south beyond the plantation areas because of the absence of natural food. RAIN IN BOUGAINVILLE (JI.N.Z.A.F. OFFICIAL NEWS SERVICE.) BOUGAINVILLE, July 26. Nearly 15 inches of rain fell on Bougainville in 4*l hours recently, during the worst and most prolonged tropical rainstorm of the year. All flying operations of New Zealand Corsairs' were cancelled, and the ground situation was static as Hooded rivers and boggy roads held up the Australian advance in the Mivo River area. South of Bougainville, Thunder storms, late each afternoon unleashed downpours over the Allied base at T orok.ina where roads have been broken and scoured by washouts and many culverts have collapsed. All traffic continues at a reduced speed mid road gangs are repairing damage in the driving ram. SHARK AND PIGEON. (R.N.Z.A.F. official news service.) BOUGAINVILLE, July 26. How a carrier pigeon got its message through to Australian headquarters makes one of the strangest stories of the Bougainville war. Naval ratings aboard an Australian vessel, anchored a mile off the shore, were fishing from the stern of the ship when a shark was seen cutting through the water a short distance away. They shot it through the head with a revolver and dragged it aboard. The shark, which measured six feet, was cut open, and in its stomach was found a heap of feathers and a roll of thin paper, an operational message which had been sent by the pigeon on July 7. The pigeon was not allowed to finish its mission alive, but the message got through. It was delivered to its destination on July 12. “UNSINKABLE” SUBMARINE "RUGBY, July 25. When the story of “the submarine the Japanese could not sink” was told earlier this year the vessel could not be named for security reasons. It may now be stated that the submarine was H.M.S. Shakespeare. Shake-

speare, with shellholes in her side, partially flooded and unable to dive, fought off 25 Japanese air attacks, survived 50 bombs, shot down one aircra ft and damaged three others. She is now safely back in a United Kingdom port. It was during a gun action with an armed Japanese merchantman that the Shakespeare was holed by a 12 -pounder in the pressure hull, and suffered 16 casualties. GERMAN AMMUNITION (Rec. H a.m.) PARIS, July 25. The United States Ordnance Section reports that nearly a million tons of German ammunition which the Allies captured, will be used to help to beat Japan.