KOBE BLITZED

Grey River Argus, 19 March 1945, Page 4

KOBE BLITZED

AIR RAIDS )IN JAPAN Continued Yesterday LASTING OVER FIVE HOURS. (Rec 10.30). NEWTORK, March 17. Tokio radio stated: Carrier planes began attacking southern Kyusho and southern Shikoku, in Japan at five o’c ock on Sunday morning (Japanese lime) The enemy task force was sighted southwards of Kyushu. Japanese air forces intercepted the raiders and they already have scored considerable war results. It added: Our air forces are also launching heavy attacks against en Th e y Tok?'broadcast was recorded at 10 50 a.m. on Saturday (U.S.A, time), indicating that an attack was still progressing after five hours. An Associated Press Agency correspondent at Guam Island said: Smoke from great fires still smouldering m Kobe prevented photographic planes from obtaining pictures of devastated areas there Photographs of Osaka showed nine of its 14 war installations as wiped out, including the 1 hama Steel Company, the Kubota Iron and Machine Works, and <-he Hatsudoki Engine Works. However, the Osaka arsenal, which previously was reported as destroyed, is still standing. This would indicate that great explosions which rocked Superfortresses may have come from an ammunition shop or a chemical plant. The U.S. War Department announced that Liberators are now supplementing the operations of Superfortresses based in India and _ the Mariana Islands. The Associated Press said Liberators apparently will be used against Japan when airstrips on Iwo Jim a are ready (Received March 18, 10.15 p.m.). WASHINGTON, March 17. An American 20th Air Force communique reported an attack on Kobe, and said 300 planes caused large fires. Smoke rose 10,000 feet. A number of explosions were seen within the target area. Results were excellent to good. The Japanese sent aloft forty fighters, but many did not attack. The flak was from intense to meagre. The U.S. Air Force, in a communique, referred to its Rangoon attack. It said good results were achieved by visual bombing. There was no fighter opposition. Flak wa's meagre. All the planes returned. Seventeen pilots returnisg from raiding Kobe reported fires in dock areas. At one place a direct hit on a Mitsubishi aeroplane plant and Kawasake locomotive plant was reported. Flak was light. General Lemay reported that nine square miles of the area of Kobe was reduced to ashes. Another three square miles in this area was severly damaged. Returning pilots reported meeting Japanese fighters for the first time in this series of raids against Tokio, Nagoya, Osaka ana Kobe. They appeared in strength. About fifty were intercepted. They apparntly were ineffective. U S. LANDING IN BONINS LIKELY. (Rec. 11.40.) NEW YORK, March 18. American carrier ’planes, from a task force south-east of Kyushu Island, have been raiding eastern and southern sectors of Kyushu, Japan, in waves since six o’clock on Sunday morning, said a Japanese communique issued at 1' p.m. Japanese time. A Tokio broadcast, recorded at 12.30 p.m. indicated the attack had ended. The radio earlier stated suicide ’planes were in action against the raiders, and that already part of the enemy fleet had been sunk. The radio claimed that Japanese ’planes sank one cruiser and one battleship or converted aircraft carrier, and set fire to one aircraft carrier. There was a hot pursuit under war, in order to deal the enemy a painful blow. The United Press Agency said: The first attack against Tokio area on February 16/ preceded the landing on Iwo Jima, this leading to speculation whether the present strike might be a diversion for -the invasion of the Bonin Islands, which were heavily bombed recently, particularly Chichi Jima.

Tokio radio reported a few days ago, that an Allied convoy was sighted in the Bonins area.