Evening star., 1944-02-21
Toto Assumes Direction ofArmy:
y. S. Armada Again Raids Reich
Toxic Reports
Loss Of 18 Ships
And l20 Planes
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
The Toxic radio acknowledged
today that Japan had suffered
heavy losses in the American
attack on her great naval base
at Truk and announced SIM
ultaneously that both the chiefs
OF the japanese Army and Navy
general statfs had been relieved
Of their posts.
Premier Gen. Hideki Toto, a
broadcast said, has personally as,
sumed the role of chief of the army
general staff in sweeping shake
up which seemed to be a direct re-
suit of the American assault, de-
scribed earlier by Admiral Chester
w, Nimitz, commander in chief of
the Pacific Fleet, as partial settle
ment" for the sneak attack on Pearl
Harbor.
In a short-waye broadcast to the
United States, the Toxic radio
quoted an imperial headquarters
communique as acknowledging the
attack on Truk which started last
Wednesday had cost the Japanese
two cruisers, three destroyers, 13
transports and 12O planes.
Another broadcast quoted an an
nouncement of the Navy Ministry
as saying Fleet Admiral Osami Ma
gano, chief of the Japanese Navy's
general staff, had been relieved of
his post" The announcement added
that Emperor Hirohito had named
Admiral Shigetaro Shimada, Navy
Minister, to serve concurrently as
chief of the naval general staff.
Marshal Relieved of Post.
At the same time, the Toxic radio
said, the japanese War Ministry
announced that Marshal Hajimi Su-
giyama had been relieved of his
post as chief of the army general
staff and that Premier Hideki Toto
had taken over the job.
The broadcaStS were recorded by
the United States Foreign Broad
cast Intelligence Service in New
York.
The communique announcing the
japanese naval losses at Truk
acknowledged that in addition
"some damages were incurred
among the land installations"
Admiral Nimitz's announcement
yesterday of the attack listed 19|
Japanese ships sunk, Z more prob
ably sunk, at least 201 planes de-
stroyed and said terrific damage
was done to land installations.
Pointing up American activity in
the Pacific, Admiral Nimitz also re-
ported that infantry and marine
troops now are driving the enemy
from Eniwetok Island, the western
most atoll in the Marshalls group.
Eniwetok is $50 miles from Truk.
Half of Island Seized.
In new landing yesterday, Ad-
miral Nimitz said, the invaders
seized half of the 6,00O-yard long
island.
The Japs hold the remaining half
of Eniwetok Island and nearby
Parry Island, site of japanese ra-
dio station.
bOHlel, OIIlCldl Japanese news
agency, said Emperor Hirohito had
personally installed Premier TOTO in
his new post as army chief of staff.
TOTO also has been serving as War
Minister, head of the munitions in
dustry, Minister of Commerce and
Industry and Minister of Education.
Domei also announced that Gen.
Atsushi Ushiroku had been ap-
pointed vice chief of the army gen.
eral staff, "concurrently assuming
the post of war councillor" 1t. Gen.
Shojiro Ida was named commander
in chief of the army central dis
trict headquarters, the news agency
added.
A later Domei broadcast said Su-
giyama and Nagano will hereafter
act as highest military advisers to
his majesty, the Emperor, remaining
in the board of field marshals and
fleet admirals"
The Imperial Headquarters COM
munlque asserted that Japanese