Heavy Damage Inflicted By Suicide Planes

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 191, 14 August 1945, Page 5

Heavy Damage Inflicted By Suicide Planes

NEW YORK, August 12. Tbe military editor of the "New .York Times,” Mr. Hanson Baldwin, says that Japanese suicide weapons I sank at least 20 naval vessels, and damaged at least 30 and possibly scores of | others. The Kamikazes caused more loss, damage, and casualties to the Ame- | rican navy in the 10 months following the invasion of Leyte than in any previous period of its history. The known sinkings include three escort-carriers, 11 destroyers, two minesweepers, one transport, one supply and : two ammunition ships, also numerous landing craft. The kamikazes have damaged six American and three British carriers, two escort-carriers, at least four American battleships and three cruisers, and also the cruiser Australia, 11 destroyers, two destroyer-escorts, one hospital ship, one M.T.B. tender, and one cargo ship. The names of a number of other ships damaged are not yet available. The Japanese lost a great number of planes without scoring a hit in suicide attacks, but perhaps 10 per cent, pierced our air patrol. Anti-aircraft fire shot down or deflected the majority