ALLIED FLEETS ATTACKED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23281, 17 August 1945, Page 5

ALLIED FLEETS ATTACKED

Enemy Planes Shot Down Incident After Victory Celebration By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright WASHINGTON, August 15. Imperial Headquarters has been trying to transmit the surrender order to every branch of the forces, but before it took full effect part of the Japanese Air Force is reported to have attacked an Allied base and the fleet in the south, says a Domei broadcast. While Imperial Headquarters Is doing its best to prevent a recurrence of such an incident. Allied fleets and convoys have again been requested not to approach Japanese home waters until the “cease fire” arrangements are made.

A correspondent with the Third Fleet off Japan, savs that two hours after the victory celebration alert, Japanese planes appeared over the Fleet. During the next few hours 13 to 16 were shot down.

The correspondent of the Associated Press on Okinawa reports that two bomb-carrying Japanese suicide planes crashed into Ihys Island. 30 miles north of Okinawa, to-night, injuring at least two American garrison soldiers in a futile raid which came 12 hours after the announcement of Japan’s surrender and which caused a two-hour alert over Okinawa and neighbouring islands.

The Tokio radio at 4 p.m. Tokio time stated that the Imperial Order to “cease fire” is expected soon, but Allied warships should stav clear of Japanese home waters until then in order to avoid untoward incident. A Guam message says that the Army and Strategic Air Forces headquarters announced that all Super-Fort-resses returned from the final raid on August 15. Four of the escorting fighters were lost, but three of the pilots were rescued.