Evening star., 1942-03-12
Japs Claim Capture
Of 100000 Prisoners
Since Start Of War
Loss Of Only 4e Ships
Is Admitted by Navy
Minister in Diet
By the Associated Press.

OkAAo VA S4AA 20 PSA4ASSS ~ os<S
casts, March 12-Premier Gen.
Hideki TOTO told a special ses-
sion of the japanese Diet today
that Japan has captured more
than 100000 prisoners since the
start of war in the Pacific.
To the Diet. summoned to cele-
brate the conquest of the Neither
lands Indies and hear reports on
the first three months of the war,
Gen. TOTO repeated the claim that
the main fleet of the United States
and Britain already has disap-
peared from the surface of the Pa
ciflc." and that "all enemy strong
holds In the Southwest Pacific are
in our hands"
He added that "Japan's defense
position along the northern border
(the frontier with Soviet Russia is
solid"
130 Warships Claimed.
Japan's navy minister, Admiral
Shigetaro Shimada, in his part of
the summation, said 130 United
Nations warships had been sunk.
He declared the Japanese Navy
losses were "only four destroyers,
four submarines, five special sub
marines, five minesweepers and ~
transports"
Gen. TOTO said Japanese planes
and guns had shot down or de-
stroyed on the ground more than
1900 planes and Japanese forces
had captured 2,100 pieces OF artil-
lery, 10000 rifles, machine guns
and pistols, and $4,000 tanks, motor
cars and railway cars.
The list would be increased, he
said, when detailed information was
received from the Burma front on
the capture OF Rangoon.
The Premier said many industrial
establishments and other vital re-
sources" in the Netherlands Indies
had been found to have suffered rel
atively little damage and were being
rehabilitated
Admiral Shimada said United Ma
tions naval losses since the start OF
the war included battleships. 3
aircraft carriers, IL cruisers, % de-
stroyers, A submarines and AZ other
warships sunk, and battleships and
72 other warships including cruisers
and destroyers damaged.
5o2 Ships Captured.
He said 1913 merchant ships ag-
gregating $50, 900 tons had been sunk,
and 90 ships totaling 100000 tons
damaged badly.
Besides these. 5o2 ships were cap
tured by the japanese, the Navy
Minister said.
He reiterated japanese claims
that the United States cruisers
Houston and Marblehead were sunk
during naval battles for Java, and
said Japanese forces had repulsed
"emeny attempts to attack" jap
anese bases in the Marshall Islands
February l. in waters east Of New
Guinea, February o.; at Wake Is
land, February "a, and at Minam-
itori Shima Marcus Island
March A.
Shimada said units of the naval
air force had made a follow-up at
tack on Pearl Harbor, bombing a
United States naval arsenal there
March 4.
All Allied Strongholds Taken.
"All enemy strongholds in the
Southwest Pacific are in our hands,
Gen. TOTO declared.
The United States and Britain
who underrated the national
strength of Japan and refused to
satisfy the claims she was en-
titled to, forced Japan to open hos
tilities," he asserted.
Now these countries are facing
the fact that no battle can be fought
without being lost and that nc
position can be successfully de-
Tended.
THE United States and British
governments have slight hope in the
future and boast of their extensive
rearmament problems"
Gen. TOTO said Germany and Italy
were winning victories which paral-
lei ours" but he warned the Diet
the war was not yet won.
Japan must win further brillian,
victories and continue her military
operations to smash the United
States and Britain and to establish
the new order in Greater Asia ane
thereby secure world peace" he said
. Referring to China, Gen. TOTO de.
clared:
Communication with the Unitee
States and Britain were cut with
the fall of Rangoon and the Chung
, king regime now is completely iso'
lated. America and Britain can onl,
give Chungking worthless gold, fol
which the Chinese people will sacri'
flee their flesh and blood.
THE leaders in Chungking, de.
spite the facts. still do not under
, stand that the United States ant
Britain deceive other countries Il