Evening star., 1944-10-13
Nimit1 Reports
Island Was Hit
From End 10 End
u. S. Loses u Planes:
Attack Continuing,
japanese Declare
MAP on Page A-f6.) J

tMuP cn Tuyc A-lOI
BY the Associated Press,
PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUAR.
TIERS, Pearl Harbor, Oct. 49,
Powerful American carrier forces
destroyed 221 japanese planes,
sank 16 ships and damaged 10
at Formosa in the fourth sue
cessive powerhouse blow at
Japan's inner defense line, Ad-
miral Chester w. Nimitz an
nounced today.
American losses were % planes
and there was no damage to surface
ships.
This was the first confirmation of
Tokyo radio reports that 1000 planes
had raided the island blockading
the approach to the China coast.
The mighty strike Wednesday
united States time) only SIS miles
south of Japan proper climaxed a
series of attacks on the Philippines,
Formosa, the Ryukyus and Marcus
within four days.
LuZOn Attacked.
Admiral Nimitz announced last
night that "a large force of carrier
aircraft" pounced on Luzon in the
Philippines Tuesday. He did not
identify the targets. but his refer
ence to attacks on enemy airbases"
might be taken to mean the Manila
area, twice hit in September, again
was the target.
(Tokyo radio reported the
American attacks were carried
into the fifth day when carrier
planes returned to Formosa
Thursday, United States time)
Without identifying the harbors
where Admiral Marc A. Mitscher's
carrier planes, discovered japanese
shipping, Admiral Nimitz reported
this score in Wednesdays Formosa
attack:
Ships sunk:
Two large cargo; medium car
go; IL small cargo.
Ships damaged,
Two large cargo; medium cargo;
10 small cargo.
Jap Warships Absent.
Once again Admiral william r.
Halsey, jr.'s, mighty Sd Fleet failed
to ind any Japanese warships WILL
ing to resist his bold thrust inside
the enemy's long planned inner de-
fense perimeter.
OF the japanese airplanes de-
stroyed, 124 were shot out of the
air and 81 finished of on the ground.
The loss of 22l airplanes was a
severe blow to japanese defenses
but comparative smallness of the
number once again emphasizes how
pinched the enemy apparently is
for airpower
Formosa Is one of the largest
islands on the Pacific, 249 miles from
north to south and ranging to SO
miles wide. Strong defense would
dictate that thousands of airplanes
be based there. However, the fact
that only % American aircraft were
downed is the strongest possible
evidence that the enemy could have
sent comparatively few more inter-
ceptors than Admiral Mitscher's
pilots destroyed.
Bombed From End to End.
American airmen bombed and
strafed Formosa from end to end.
Admiral Nimitz reported they did
extensive damage to hangers, build
ings, oil dumps, warehouses, docks
and industrial establishments at
Einansho, Okayama, Tamsui, Heito,
Reigaryo and Taichu."
The ships may have been found
IN Tamsui harbor on the north or
at Heito near the southern tip. The
raiders apparently worked down the
western side of the island only about
100 miles from the China coast.
They struck the most important rail
centers on Western Formosa, con-
centrating on the southwestern sec.
ton where Einansho, Okayama,
Heito and Reigaryo lie within a
semicircle Is miles in diameter.
Never before has so much power
been unleashed in such brief period
against Japan.
Expanding this offensive picture,
bomber armada completely knocked
out plants supplying the enemy war
machine with aviation gasoline and
oil at Balikpapan on Borneo and
American invaders of the Palaus
swept on to their 18th island in the
south end of those stepping stones to
the Philippines.
Eour-Dav nFens;y.
The four-day offensive read like
this:
Sunday, October 8.-Marcus Is
land, LBS miles southeast of Tokyo,
methodically shelled all day by guns
of warships. including the 16-inch
guns of battleships. Defenses of the
vital outpost were pulverized.
Monday, October 9.-The Ryukyus.
swept from end to end, including
Amamis Oshima, 200 miles south Of
Japan, by hundreds of carrier based
planes in an eight-hour assault dur
ing which So enemy surface craft
were sunk or damaged and SO planes
destroyed.
Tuesday, October 10-Luzon at
tackled. Last nights communicate
said, Detailed reports of the dam
age inflicted are not yet available"
Wednesday, October II - Heavily
fortified Formosa raided by planes
which ripped It's railway network
and ports. Japan said the attack
continued for more than eight hours.
tIn a Tokyo broadcast last
night by the Federal Communi-
cations Commission, the uncon-
firmed Japanese claim was made
that their planes in defending
Formosa had "cornered" and
sunk one American carrier. pos
sibly sunk q second. A previous
claim, also unconfirmed, was
made that at least 100 Of the at
tacking planes we're shot DOWN.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur an.
(see PACIFIC, Page A-l6)
s