OKINAWA ADVANCE

Grey River Argus, 16 May 1945, Page 5

OKINAWA ADVANCE

BY AMERICANS. ENEMY AIR ATTACKS FUTILE. (Rec. 9.1.) WASHINGTON, May 14. Admiral N-imitz, in his communique, stated that about thirty-five Japanese aircraft, in three groups, attacked the American ships off Okinawa Island on Sunday evening, and damaged two light units. Twentyfive of the enemy ’planes were shot down one. American destroyers accounted for eight of their aircraft. Early on Monday morning a few Japanese ’planes dropped bombs ashore on Okinawa, but without causing damage. Two rifle companies of the United States 96th. Division reached the summit of Conical Hill, 2,500 yards eastwards of S-huri, on Okinawa, holding on to the position in spite of Japanese counter-attacks. The 383rd. Infantry Regiment. completed the capture of the hill on Tuesday. Domination of this high ground oermitted the American left flank to* advance *2.400 yards southward along the east coast, capturing Yonabaru airfield. In other sectors, American advances have been limited generally to one hundred and two hundred yards, as the troops of the 10th. Army have met stiff opposition. Since April 1, Australian forces on Okinawa have captured or destroyed 386. enemy guns of 70 millimetre calibre ■ or larger. Several groups of Japanese aircraft made a series of attacks on an American carrier task force on Monday morning. They caused some damage to one of the major units. A preliminary report shows 21 enemy ’planes as shot down. British carrier aircraft bombed airfields on Miyano in the Sakishima Islands on Saturday and Sunday. A large oil fire and a number of smaller fires were started. Two aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Search privateers sank a small enemy oiler, a medium frieghter, and a small freighter-transport around Korea on Sunday. From the beginning of operations on Okinawa to Sunday, search ’planes sank 70,900 tons of enemy shipping, damaged 70,150 tons and destroyed six aircraft. American combat losses were three aiijcraft. Fleet aircraft damaged five small cargo boats, a lugger and fishing craft southwards of Honshu on Sunday. Aircraft also attacked in the Marshalls, the Palaus and at Yap and Ponape.

JAPANESE PLAN VOLUNTEER DEFENCE ARMY. (Rec. 7.30). WASHINGTON, May 14. Suzuki, addressing Japan’s forty-six Prefectural Governors, asked _ them immediately to form a people’s volunteer defence army, and empowered them to take any steps necessary. He assured them the Government would shoulder the responsibility for any drastic measures they might have to carry out. Tokio radio says that Suzuki urged them to obtain' the people’s conscience and declared that the key to victory lay more than anything else in the people’s faith in their leaders. The Home Minister, General Abe, said that the Governors would be expected to le:*d . contingents in collaboration with the army if the time came. JAP. CITY SET ABLAZE. EY 900 U.S. ’PLANES. NEW YORK, May 14. Tokio radio quoted an Imperial communique saying that many fires were started in Nagoya, but most were extinguished by noon on Monday. Japanese interceptors were still attacking task forces from which 900 carrier ’planes were operating. At Guam, crew's who raided Nagoya, said a column of smoke 17,000 feet high covered the city, and flames were visible 60 miles away. The attack exceeded in weight most of the raids against Germany, and was the most concentrated incendiary raid of the Pacific war. Tokio radio announced that all men to the age of 65, and women to 45, will be inducted in the metropolitan people volunteer corps for civil defence. The 'corps will be completed this month. The radio also stated that in order to brighten the lives of Tokio citizens, the authorities are relaxing last year’s amusement ban. Many cinemas, theatres and public baths have already reopened. MORE BOMBERS TO BLITZ JAPAN (Rec. 6.30) SYDNEY, May 15 Mr. John Storey, Director of the Beaufort Division of the Commonwealth Department of Aircraft Production has returned to Australia after being six months in England and the United States. He said:— Fleets of giant new bombers are being built in Britain for mass attacks on Japan. The new bombers would have the same bomb as the standard Lancaster, but would have a much greater range and heavier armament. In the United States, factories in all parts of the country were turning out Superfortresses or Superfortress parts for war against Japan. CANADA'S COMMITMENTS. '•> VOLUNTEER'S MORE THAN ADEQUATE. (Rec. 7.30.) OTTAWA. May 14. Volunteers from Canadians overseas will be more than adequate to provide one division with ancillary troops for thd Pacific, which it is reported is all that Canada will be

asked to supply, said the Premier’ of Saskatchewan on his return from a visit to Europe. LONDON, May 14. British troops, specially trained for Pacific 'warfare, are on the way to war against Japan. Vast supplies of special equipment are going with them. The R.A.F. allocated certain squadrons for duties with the armies. They, will be leaving ■ soon. The R.A.F. will take part in the bombing of Japan.