SIX JAPANESE WARSHIPS SUNK

Southland Times, Issue 25642, 9 April 1945, Page 5

SIX JAPANESE WARSHIPS SUNK

319 ENEMY AIRCRAFT DESTROYED (United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 8. Six Japanese warships, including their largest battleship, the Yamato, were sunk and 319 aircraft shot down in a big sea and air battle off Okinawa. American losses were three destroyers and seven planes. Admiral Chester W. Niinitz’s communique, reporting the action, says that the enemy attempted strong counter-' attacks against American forces operating in the vicinity of Okinawa on Friday and yesterday. A large force of enemy aircraft attacked American ships and shore installations on Friday afternoon and in the evening. American fighters destroyed 55 aircraft and flak shot down 61. The enemy pressed the attacks with desperation and sank three destroyers and damaged several other destroyers and smaller craft.

Navy aircraft yesterday sighted the enemy surface force, which left the Inland Sea and sailed southward past Kyushu and headed into the East China Sea. The force included the battleship Yamato, which was the most powerful ship left in the Japanese Navy, a light cruiser, of the Agnano class, one other small light cruiser or a large destroyer and a number of destroyers. Vice-Admiral Marc A. Mitscher’s fast carrier task force steamed towards the enemy at high speed and was subjected to air attack. “American,carrier aircraft met no air opposition over the Japanese ships, but flak was heavy. Aircraft, 50 miles south of Kyushu, sank the Yamato, the light Agnano class cruiser, a small cruiser and three destroyers, and set fire to three destroyers. Three more destroyers escaped. The Yamato was hit by at least eight torpedoes and eight heavy bombs. All the enemy ships were heavily strafed with rockets and machine-guns. The American carriers lost seven aircraft. Their planes shot down 30 enemy aircraft.