Evening star., 1942-01-21

This dispatch was sent from an
enemy country, whose motive IN re.
Axis claims should 5. credited eniy
when confirmed by American or Allied
SourceSD
| By the Associated Press.
TOXIC, Jan. 81 (Offcial Broad
cast) Premier Gen. Hideki TOTO
told the Diet (Parliament) today
that Japan, acting in close CO.
operation with Germany and
Italy, planned increasingly Wig
orouS operations" in the Pacific
and would go on fighting until
the United States and Britain
were brought to their knees"
Japan intends to strengthen
further her solidarity with her allies
in military, diplomatic. economic
and various other spheres and to
60 forward toward the attainment
of common purpose" Gen. TOTO
declared.
He asserted Japan would gladly
enable the Philippines to enjoy
honor and independence" provided
the Filipinos showed what he called
a genuine willingness to collaborate
in achieving common prosperity.
In reference to Australia and the
Netherlands Indies, Gen, TOTO de-
clared:
If they continue their present
attitude Of resisting Japan we will
show no mercy in crushing them"
Bare Mention of Russia.
Domei said the Premier made
virtually no mention OF japanese
relations with the Soviet Union"
He merely said" the agency re-
ported, that against the Chungking
regime, too, We have increasingly
strengthened our pressure, while our
defenses in the north are adamant."
Earlier Foreign Minister Shigenori
Togo told the Diet that Japan was
paying close attention" to the pan
American conference at Rio de
Janeiro and said the government
was prepared to MAINTAIN cordial
relations with the South American
nations 80 long as they are not
llllSlCu Ny SAIiiCiAAoiA AAA0SAAA@Ao seSAAo
and do not adopt hostile or un-
friendly attitude toward Japan"
(Togo's statement was gener-
ally regarded as an attempt to
influence the South American
nations against joining In
declaration severing all rela-
tions with the Axis powersD
1T is only the British h-American
design to dominate the whole world
which Japan regards with hostility
Togo added.
Many Claims Repeated.
Navy Minister Vice Admiral Shige-
taro Shimada, reviewing japanese
naval operations for the benefit OF
the Diet, repeated the claim that
the United States aircraft tender
Langley had been sunk January 3
southwest of Johnston Island and
that the aircraft carrier Lexington
had been destroyed January II west
of Hawaii.
(The Japanese previously had
reported the sinking of these
vessels, but Washington had dis
missed various claims of sinkings
or damage caused by the Japa-
nese as fishing expedition"
designed to elicit information
concerning the whereabouts OF
United States ships)
Shimada asserted the Japanese
Navy now virtually commands the
Pacific from Malaga and the Indies
to the West Coast of the United
States" and claimed its achieve
ments were as follows:
Warships sunk-Seven enemy bat
tleships, two aircraft carriers. two
cruisers, six destroyers, 18 subma-
rines and 26 other warships such
as gunboats and minesweepers.
Warships damaged-Four battle
ships and six cruisers, one seaplane
tender, three destroyers.
Merchantmen sunk, IS.
Merchantmen damaged, %.
Aircraft damaged or destroyer,
977.
Sinkings on United States Coast.
Shimada also claimed that Japa-
nese submarines operating OF the
United States coast had sunk 10
vessels aggregating 10000 tons,
heavily damaged three others to-
falling 10000 tons, and damaged less
seriously hve others totaling 10000
tons.
He put Japanese naval losses since
the start OF the war at four de-
stroyers, four minesweepers, three
submarines, four transports and 81
aircraft, and said one cruiser had
been slightly damaged.
tThe United States Army and
Navy alone have reported the
sinking Of Al Japanese warships
and merchant vessels. including
one battleship, two cruisers, six
destroyers, five submarines and
IA transports
In operations in the Philippines
alone, Shimada said, the Japanese
Navy has shot down or destroyed on
the ground 1856 planes, sunk four de-
stroyers, seven submarines and five
merchantmen, and has damaged