BRITISH SHIPS IN ACTION

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

BRITISH SHIPS IN ACTION

Some Major Units Damaged

(Rec. 7.30 p.m.) GUAM, April 7. Admiral Nimitz announced that British warships and planes extensively damaged ground installations in the Sakishima Group and put out of action 31 Japanese aircraft in a three-day attack which began on March 31. Some major units of the British Fleet were slightly damaged by Japanese aircraft, but all the major units remained fully operational. A correspondent of the Associated Press says the battleship King George V was possibly damaged. British Naval observers returning from the strike said five enemy aircraft made a concerted attack against the King George V. Four out of 10 planes which attacked the British Fleet during the landings on Okinawa were shot down.

The Guam correspondent of the Associated Press says there is every indication that the aerial attack against the American Fleet in the Ryukyus is still continuing. The total number of Japanese planes shot down compares well with any other battle in the Pacific.

The correspondent of The New York Times on Okinawa states that the Japanese had their best chance to use their air force during the landing operations. This sudden belated attack represents a do or die policy adopted after the landings took the Japanese off guard. The feeling here is that if this is the best the Japanese can do, it is not enough. An American naval spokesman said that about 25 per cent, of the remaining Japanese major naval combat force was lost or put out of action at Okinawa, leaving a force that can be handled very easily by any of the Allies’ major task forces. Obviously the Japanese did not like the position in the Inland Sea, which was becoming untenable. The fact that they used very fast ships indicated that they hoped to make a hit and run raid and then escape. The Guam correspondent of the Associated Press says the sunken Japanese ships were probably the last strong force the enemy was able to muster.

By late this afternoon carrier planes of two fast American task groups had shot down about 150 enemy aircraft attempting to attack surface units of the fleet in the Ryukus area, states Admiral Nimitz in a communique. This tally is preliminary and incomplete. Some Allied ships received minor damage, but all are fully operational. The American troops on Okinawa continued to attack both in the northern and southern sectors. The 3rd Marine Amphibious Corps by midday had advanced three to 5000 yards against small scattered enemy groups on Ishikawa isthmus. The 24th Army Corps in the south encountered stiffened resistance in areas organized ,for defence and supported by enemy artillery. The Americans were supported continuously by ships’ gunfire and carrier aircraft. Nine enemy planes were shot down last night near the American positions around Okinawa. In capturing the Kerama group preliminary to the attack on Okinawa 539 enemy troops were killed and 166 taken prisoner. NEW JAPANESE CABINET Personnel Announced By Tokyo (Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 8. Tokyo radio has announced that Admiral Baron Kantaro Suzuki has formed his new Cabinet. In addition to the Premiership, Admiral Suzuki will hold the portfolios of Foreign Minister and Minister for Greater East Asia. General Korechika Anami is new War Minister, and Admiral Mitsumass Yonai is the Navy Minister. General Anami was formerly Director-General of Army Aviation headquarters. He was ViceMinister of War before Pearl Harbour. Admiral Yonai was Premier from January to July 1940. Other Ministers are Toyosaku Hirose, Finance; Teijior Toyoda, Munitions, Transport and Communications; Kazo Ota, Education; Kenki Abe, Home Affairs; Takeshige Ishiguro, Agriculture and Commerce; Hiroshi Shimomura, Information; Tadahiko Okada, Welfare; Hiromasa Matzuzaka, Justice; Seizo Sakonji and Hyogoro Sakurai, State Ministers. The, Chief Cabinet Secretary is Hisatsune Sakomizu and the Chief of the Legislation Bureau, Chokkyo Murase.