JAPAN BLOCKADED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25915, 6 August 1945, Page 5

JAPAN BLOCKADED

SUPER-FORTRESS RAIDS

HARBOURS VIRTUALLY CLOSED

GUAM, Aug. 3. Super-Fortresses have established a complete shipping blockade of the Japanese home islands, said the spokesman for the Twentieth Air Force. Every important harbour throughout Japan is virtually closed. Korean waters have also been mined by Super-Fortresses. Hundreds of thousands of tons of shipping have been destroyed by mines in the past four months. Shipping in the Inland Sea is almost completely neutralised. , , Thus for the first time air-power has carried the brunt of a strategic blockade against a maritime nation. Japan’s teeming millions are receiving less than half the food and raw materials they need. Tokio radio announced that 100 Mustangs led by Super-Fortresses, to-day attacked installations in the Chiba, Ibaraki. and Tochigi prefectures. The Associated Press correspondent on Guam says Mariana-based SuperFortresses have flown 27.000 sorties, carrying 162,000 tons of bombs against Japan for the loss of 149 pianes. Returning crews reported that solid sheets of flame, visible for nearly 200 miles, enveloped four Japanese cities and a huge oil refinery in their centre this morning. One pilot said it was an incredible sight, beyond description. “The Japanese knew we were coming, but did nothing about it.” Tokio radio announced that SuperFortresses on August 2 raided Turumi, between Tokio and Yokohama. Tachikawa, 25 miles west of Tokio. and Ujiyamada, south-east of Nagoya, which is not mentioned in General Spaatz’s communique. It claimed that 11 were shot down. The radio added that Super-Fort-resses also attacked the city of Korea. Admiral Nimitz reported that the Wake Island shore batteries slightly damaged some American ships in action yesterday.