JAPAN’S NAVAL STRENGTH

Southland Times, Issue 25483, 2 October 1944, Page 5

JAPAN’S NAVAL STRENGTH

Eight Battleships Left (Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 30. Japan’s battleship strength is down to eight, including four 45,000-tonners which would be ready for service in three months. This information was gained by the Korean Underground Movement and reported to the Commonwealth Club by Kilson Haan, the Korean leader.

Other underground reports mention the following Japanese ships: 12 aircraft carriers, 16 converted carriers, 182 destroyers, 102 submarines, 24 cargo submarines. each of 4500 tons, 22 heavy cruisers, and 28 light cruisers. The Japanese are building 3000 fighter planes monthly. Japanese merchantmen have been kept up to about the pre-war tonnage, and new production is estimated at 2,000,000 tons a year. Haan said he visited the State Department Offices in Washington on the Saturday before Pearl Harbour when he tried to give the latest information on the Japanese Fleet’s approach to Hawaii, but he was told to return on Monday. Later, the former Secretary of the Navy, the late Colonel Frank Knox, told him: “Your predictions were indeed borne out.” DARING U.S. AIR RAIDS JAPANESE SHIPS DESTROYED

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 1. United States Catalina flying boats in night patrol missions from South-west Pacific bases have destroyed 15 Japanese ships and crippled seven others. They have also wrecked several

barges and luggers and smaller craft. A phenomenal performance was registered by a Catalina which probed as far as Darvel Bay (British North-east Borneo) where a 4000-ton Japanese freighter and three vessels of about 1500 tons were moored alongside the single wharf. Direct bomb hits caused explosions and a fire which spread destroying all four vessels. Meanwhile strafing attacks sank six heavily-laden barges in a bay. Another Catalina damaged shipping at the Borneo oil port of Balik Papan which was raided for the first time in several months. Other Japanese freighters, mostly under 100.0 tons, were attacked in the southern Philippines and in Celebes waters. ■ < REVERSES~IN CHINA Gloomy Feelings Produced z CHUNGKING, September 29. Recent Chinese defeats and the possibility that the Americans may lose additional bases in China have produced an atmosphere of gloom in Chungking unmatched since the dark days when China was fighting alone, says a correspondent of the Associated Press of America. The Chinese and Americans feel that the recent reverses have already prolonged the war for several months. In addition, the prestige of the Chinese Central Government has been harmed, which is important to the relations between the Chinese and the other Allies and because these reverses mean that the Central Government has lost a certain amount of face in its dealings with the Communists in the north. Moreover, the loss of some of China’s best divisions arid the loss of air bases has greatly weakened the possibility of co-operation in any joint effort with the American forces in the Pacific in the event of an attempt to seize important Chinese coast ports.

ADVANCE IN BURMA Japanese Craft Ambushed (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 30. Round Tiddim, men of the sth Indian Division have had successful encounters with small Japanese groups screening a village, says a communique from SEAC. The main advance along, the Tiddim road continues.

A Japanese river craft, bringing men and supplies up the Kalapanzin river, was ambushed at night and sunk, al the crew being killed. Air activity has continued throughout Burma.