PRE-INVASION STAGE REPORTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 168, 18 July 1945, Page 5

PRE-INVASION STAGE REPORTED

Rtcd. 11 p.ui. Loudon, July 17. Described by Admiral Nimitz as the most powerful strikingforce yet assembled in the Pacific as one unit, the Third United States Fleet and a British task force combined to send 1500 car-rier-borne planes over the Tokio area at dawn. Admiral Nimitz stated that this combined attack on Tokio could be accepted as the pre-invasion stage of the assault on the Japanese mainland. The attack is reported to have been made in .great force.

A significant disclosure is that included in the attacking force is the King George V, former flagship of the Home Fleet, as well as one of the latest aircraft-carriers, the Formidable. In addition there are the cruisers Black Prince an<f Newfoundland, and five destroyers, one of them Australian. The combined force is under the command of Admiral Halsey.

Recd. 11.20 p.m. Washington, July 16 Aumiral Halsey is over-all commander in the naval attack on Tokio. Admiral Rawlings is tactical commander ot the British task force and Admiral Viai commands the Britis.i airc. alt-carriers. Other British task group commanders include Rear-Ad-mirals E. S. Blind and J. Eddleston. In addition to the carrier Formidable the British ships engaged include the cruiseis Newfoundland and Black Prince and the destroyers Barfieur, Frenville, Troubridge and Undine and the Australian destroyer Quick Match. The fact that Admiral Vian commands the carriei-s ind.cates that the Formidable is net the only British carrier in Admiral Halsey’s attack, lhe prsence of Rear-Admirals Brin I and Eddleston also gives a hint of the extent of the fore is involved. It Is the first combined British end American operation against Japan proper and the most powerful force ev.’r assembled in the Pacific. The attacks are still continu'n r. The Associated Press correspondent says the combined British and American force probably hurled 1300 car-rier-based planes against the Tokio area.

The Tokio radio said the force included ten carriers.

Reed. 9 p.m. Washington, July 16. The Naval shelling of the Japanese homeland had opened the pre-invasion phase of the war. Admiral Nimitz declared in a broadcast, and added:—“ln this phase we rely on two principal strategies: Firstly, an ever-tightening blockade of the home islands, secondly, destruction by shelling and bombing of every industry and resource contributing to Japan’s ability to make war. Our battleships’ 16-inch guns, opening fire on industrial targets in Honshu and Hokkaido, also opened the era in which we will dominate the air and sea approaches to Japan. Conversely, the action highlights the desperate defensive position in which the Japanese find themselves. We have paralysed the Japanese Navy’s will and ability to come out and fight. We must now" take a series of certain and progressive steps until the Japanese neopies will and ability to resist is broken.”

Corsairs attacked with roeket-flrc and strafed installations on the Kushira airfield, southern Kyushu, destroying barracks ano building.,, strafed parked aircraft and cause.l an explosion in a power house on Tanega Island, says Admiral Nimitz s communique. In sweeps against shipping in the Shanghai area privatee-'s set afire ships and docks on Whangpoo River and an oil plr» t cc-?entra-tion near Shanghai. Recd. 1 a.m. Washington, July 17.

Admiral Nimitz announced that the week-end carrier sweep over northern Japan sank at least 140 ships and small craft and damaged an additional 234 vessels.