AIR BLOWS CONTINUE

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22659, 12 July 1945, Page 5

AIR BLOWS CONTINUE

200 PLANES FROM OKINAWA MORE THAN 100 CARRIERS IN COMMISSION HEAVY DAMAGE TO JAPANESE CITIES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) WASHINGTON, July 11 Two hundred American aircraft from Okinawa continued the assault on Japan today with attacks on airfields on the island of Kyushu. Other aircraft off the China coast set three Japanese cargo ships ablaze. Giving these facts, Admiral Nimitz in his communique today made no further mention of the American task force in Japanese waters. The Tokyo radio, however, announced that (he carrier task force which attacked Tokyo had withdrawn “for fear of our special attacks,” but warned that it was still in the vicinity of the Japanese homeland. Another broadcast said the raids on Tokyo airfields yesterday caused extremely small damage. The Government had taken new steps to build up the nation’s food supply and strengthen the railway systems preparatory to the expected invasion. The United States Navy Department today said that more than 100 American aircraft carriers were in commission, including two new “battle carriers” each of 35,000 tons. The 21st Bomber Command reports that as a result of the Super-Fortress raid last Friday three more Japanese industrial cities are severely damaged. Reconnaissanace photographs show 64 per cent of Kofu burned out, 50 per cent of the built-up area of Shimizu damaged, and 43 per cent of the railway terminus of Chiba razed. Photographs also show heavy damage to the Chigusa factory in Nagoya, the Tachikawa army arsenal and the Ltsube River old refinery. Jubilantly hailing Admiral Halsey’s air blows against the Tokyo area, Mr J. V. Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy, said the United States Navy controlled the sea route to Japan’s shoreline. The Navy s carriers would team with Army air forces in coordinated blows which would spell finish to the Japanese air force. Army air forces headquarters announces that Japan is getting a rougher deal at quicker pace that Germany did, as 100,000 tons of bombs have fallen on Japan by July 4, whereas Germany had not received that tonnage until shortly before D Day. The commander of the United States air forces in China, Lieutenant-General Clare Chennault, said that the Japanese were moving air force units from the home islands to Manchuria. Here the Japanese had many excellent air bases which could be put into operation at a moment’s notice. In addition to holding villages in the«6ittang River bend, the Japanese 80 miles north-east of Rangoon are making strong efforts to reach the Rangoon-Mandalay railway, and are digging m to consolidate the positions they won last week west of the Sittang River. They have extended their area to include the village terminus of the big Sittang Canal, which the Allied forces were using as a line of communication.