Evening star., 1943-06-16
Japan Expecting New
Blows From lis Foes,
Tojo Tells Jap Diet
Declares Resistance
On Attu Prevented
American Advance
Hy the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
Premier Gen. Hideki Toto, ad-
dressing an extraordinary ses-
sion OF the Japanese Diet today,
declared the war situation is be-
coming increasingly tense" and
that there are increasing signs
of impending BritiSh-American
offensive on a large scale, the
Toxic radio reported.
, The Premier assured the Diet,
however, that new blows being de-
.veloped by the Allies "are things
which Japan naturally has fore
seen," said the broadcast, which was
transmitted by Domei news agency
for foreign consumption and re-
corded by United States Govern
.ment monitors.
"Seizing the opportunity for such
counter -offensives of our enemies, +"
1Tojo said, the imperial forces are
meeting them wherever they come
Our forces are not only inflicting
terrible blows on them but also are
developing new methods to defeat
them"
Exaggerates Allied Losses.
Admiral Shigetaro Shimada, Jap
Anese naval minister, reported to the
Diet that total japanese naval losses
since the war began were 878 planes,
one battleship, three aircraft car
riers, three cruisers, 10 destroyers,
IL submarines and 13 other war
ships.
In his address broadcast by the
Toxic radio and recorded by the
Associated Press, Shimada made the
highly exaggerated claim that the
Japanese had sunk Is Allied battle
ships, IL aircraft carriers, SIS cruis-
ers, 56 destroyers, 1913 submarines
and 50 other warships. besides sink
ing 1863 merchant ships totaling
2,250,000 tons. He said that 5,2l4
Allied planes had been shot down
or otherwise destroyed.
(The Associated Press tabula-
ton Of announced japanese ship
losses total 587 since Pearl Har-
Dor. Included in this figure are
three battleships, six aircraft
carriers, AZ cruisers, 81 de-
stroyers, SO submarines and Al
minor war vessels. United States
submarines alone have accounted
for 18l Jap ships in all categories.
Announced United States losses
total 100, including one battle
ship, four aircraft carriers. eight
cruisers, "a deStroyers, seven sub
- marines, not including one lost
in a blackout, and 81 minor war
y ships)
Shimada declared "the decisive
stage is fast approaching" in the
Southwest Pacific, with Japanese
forces carrying out "large-scale op-
erations" in that area.
He told the Diet that japanese
troops were carrying out large
scale" operations in China, along
the Burmese Indian frontier and in
the Pacific
Premier TOTO paid warm tribute
to the Japanese garrison which was
annihilated by American troops on
Attu Island, declaring it had &C
complished its strategic objective"
OF preventing an American advance
westward in the Aleutians for year
Praises Japs on Attu.
He told the Diet that japanese
troops were carrying out grand
scale" operations in China, along
the Burmese Indian frontier and in
the Pacific.
Thus" he said, "the war situa-
ton has become increasingly tense
and battles which repeatedly take
place are more grim and terrific"
The Diet, which has no voice in
the formulation Of japanese policy
and Is little more than a rubber
stamp for legislation decided on by
TOTO and his military advisers, was
not permitted to question the Pre-
mier concerning mis- report on the
war
TOTO asserted that the occupied
regions of East Asia were giving
japan the utmost cooperation" to
bring the war to a successful con-
clusion and promised that Japan
would exert every effort to help
India "eXpel and eliminate Anglo
Saxon influences, which are the
enemy of India in every true sense
of the word"
Promises Independence"
The Premier also promised the
Philippines independence" within
the year and said that a new in
dependent" Burmese state would be
set us soon.
He did not elaborate on these
promises, but observers recalled that
at the last session of the Diet he
had promised Burma independence
with the qualification that she must
continue thereafter to contribute to
the creation of a new world order in
close concert with Japan"
TOTO expressed confidence in ulti-
mate victory by Japan and her Axis
partners, and told the Diet:
Our strategic position to assure
victory in Greater East Asia is being
strengthened day by day, with the
vast resources of the region being
rapidly converted into our fighting
power"
Inc TOXIC broadcast said that
Emperor Hirohito was present at the
opening session of the Diet and that
the galleries we're filled as Toto de-
livered his address-first before the
House of Peers and then before the
lower chamber.
The government later introduced
eight major bills-among them a
100000, ,ooo-yen supplementary bud
get for the army and navy; a re-
quest for 100000 900 yen to sub
sidize food production, and a pro-
posal for 21,aeo, 900 ,ooo-yen bond
issue to provide funds chiefly for
military purposes.
The yen has a nominal value of
about % cents, although accurate
conversion into American currency
is impossible because it is no longer
quoted on the foreign market.
Measures also were introduced to
give the government greater control
over business and industry.
Ore Carrier Rummed