JAPANESE CLAIM A VICTORY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 249, 18 October 1944, Page 5

JAPANESE CLAIM A VICTORY

“FIRST HARD BLOW TO THE ENEMY”

Reed. 6 p.m. Washington, Tct. 16. The Prime Minister of Japan, General Koiso, broadcasting to the nation, said: "Draw the chin-straps of your helmets tighter. We have dealt the first hard blow to the enemy, which gives us hope for battles ahead.” Koiso warned the Japanese not to break out in victory cheers prematurely, but to speed up production. Tokio radio quoted Admiral No- ’ mura, former Ambassador to the Unit- • ed States, as claiming a Japanese | naval victory, which would prove a turning point. He added: “The present victory is insufficient to throw the American strategy out of gear.”, Tokic radio claimed: “Japanese planes intercepted and attacked 1 American carrier forces sent to Manila in a divisionary attempt to rescue 1 enemy task forces now fleeing from Formosa.”

The radio also claimed that a Jap- j anese naval victory had set back an I impending invasion of the Philippines I by at least two months. “Meanwhile,” add°d the radio, “the I Japanese people are wildly celebrating, the Formosa Sea victory, which made Hawaii and Malaya appear sideshows and which is comparable with tha. Russian defeat in 1905.

General Koiso, in a message to the nation, said: “The enemy offensive against the Philippines has been dealt a slecige hammer blow. Tht longawaited opportunity for Japan’s Pacific battle arrived, and torpedoplanes and navy air force showed its mettle in the present action. The Associated Press says that claims of victory in various jubilant Japanese broadcasts varied from 40 to 52 American watships sunk or damaged.