JAPANESE CITIES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21753, 30 June 1945, Page 5

JAPANESE CITIES

SUPER-FORTS’ TARGETS PORTS & RURAL CENTRES (11 a.m.) WASHINGTON, June 29. The Associated Press’ corresponded on Guam says pilots from SuperFortresses returning from raids on Kyushu and' Honshu reported large fires at Nobeoka and Okayama. Clouds obstructed views of the results at Sasebo and Moji. Interceptors were encountered and the “flak” was intense over Moji. The Tokio radio said that 150 Super-Fortresses also attacked Kanoya, in southern Kyushu. The New York Herald-Tribune’s correspondent on Guam says that Sasebo, despite its importance as the guardian of' Tsushima Strait, had escaped the Super-Fortresses' attention until to-day. Navy planes from Okinawa daily raided the straits, attacking shipping almost within sight of Sasebo, but by-passed the port with its extensive facilities for the construction, repair and maintenance of small naval vessels. Key Coaling Centre_

Moji, with a population of 140,000, ranks as the fifth Japanese port and second only to Wakamatsu as a coaling centre. Nobeoka is one of Japan’s leading military and explosives centres. Okayama, from which seven railways radiate, contains many small “shadow” factories producing aeroplane parts and other war materials. Koni is reported to be one of the most inflammable targets in Japan, with wood and plaster buildings concentrated on the waterfront. Eighteen Japanese cities have now been attacked with incendiary bombs.

American aircraft yesterday struck at the Sakishima and Amami islands, damaging shipping, states Admiral Nimitz’s communique. Thunderbolts sank two luggers and destroyed a float-plane on the water in the Sakashimas. Marine aircraft struck at installations on Kakai Island. One enemy shot down. Search planes sank a small tanker, a small cargo ship, one unidentified vessel, one freighter and four small craft and also damaged a small freightertransport, five small cargo ships and a small coaster on Korean and Japanese waters yesterday and to-day. Liberators attacked Truk, and Marcus Islands. Helldivers bombed the Marshalls, Palaus and Yap.