Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-10-11
Isles 200 Miles
From JapanH it
By Navy Flyers
So Surface Vessels
Struck or Destroyed
In Ryukyus Attock
MAP on Page A-I0.J

b. the Associated Press.
PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUAR-
TIERS, Pearl Harbor, Oct. lin
the boldest naval stroke of the
Pacific war, the free rowing
American Sd Fleet struck 200
miles south of Japan, defying
both Japan's home fleet and air
force Monday by pouring carrier
planes in overpowering strength
against the Ryukyu Islands.
AS the climax of powerful blows
delivered since August 80 in the
Philippines, Palaus and Bonins, Adj
miral William F. Halsey's task force
wiped out SO planes and sank or
damaged SO surface craft-every
vessel sighted-in the Ryukyus, 500
miles from the China coast.
Not one American warsi1ip was
hit by the enemy in an operation
which, in many ways, was more
daring than the 1912 carrier based
plane strike at Tokyo inasmuch as
the carrier in that case retired while
the planes few on to China. In
Mondays strike, Vice Admiral Marc
A. Mitschers carriers stayed around
for the raiders return.
IA Planes Downed.
Admiral Chester w. NimitZ, an.
nouncing the Ryukyu raid in a com.
munique yesterday, said the planes
swept over the 570-mile long chain
in great force" They shot down IA
planes, wiped out IS on the ground
and could find no warship bigger
than destroyer. 1t was among IL
definitely sunk. Japan's home fleet
kept out of sight and the home
based air force did not come to
Ryukyu's aid.
"a japanese imperial commu-
nique today said 400 American
planes carried out Mondays at
tack on the Ryukyu islands.
The communique, heard by the
/ Federal Communications Com
mission, said the American raid
ers attacked from 7 am. to mid
afternoon.
ct said American planes ranged
/ from Amami Oshima, 200 miles
south of Japan, to Miyako Island,
] nearly 500 miles farther south
/ near Formoso. Okinawa Island
was named as one of the targets.
I Tokyo claimed that more than
1 Is of the enemy planes were shot
down." and asserted only slight
damage" was done
500 Surface Craft Hit.
Admiral Mitscher's task force
raids, which have overwhelmed such
strategic areas as Manila, have re-
suited since August in knocking out
more than 1,100 enemy planes and
500 surface craft ranging from de-
stroyers and big cargo vessels down
to luggers.
In all these raids not a warship
has been damaged.
Yesterdays communique on the
Ryukyu raid said: There was no
damage to our surface ships and
our plane losses were light
Significantly, in demonstrating
how the American fleet can disperse
its units in strength, this blow fell
one day after battleships spent all
day Sunday blowing to bits the jap
anese defenses on Marcus Island,
more than / 500 miles east of the
| Ryukyus.
10th Palau Isle Secured.
In another communique last night,
/ Admiral Nimitz announced that 81st
Division troops which invaded 10th
island in the Palaus Sunday COM
pletely secured it within "a hours.
1t Is the tiny island of Garakayo, to
the north of the larger American
holding of Peleliu. The 10 islands
and islets provide the Yanks with an
expanding base within SIS miles Of
the Philippines.
Three hundred miles south of the
/ Philippines at invaded Morotai, Gen.
Douglas Macarthur announced to-
day, fighter planes and patrol-tor-
pedo boats broke up an enemy at
tempt earlier this week to reinforce
Japanese remnants holding out
against American forces which land
ed September Is. Eighteen barges
were sunk or damaged in the action.
A few barges may have put some
troops ashore but spokesman said
there was no cause for any concern
about the American situation.
Results Listed.
In the detailed account of the
Ryukyu attack, based on admittedly
preliminary reports" Admiral MINI
itz said these results were achieved:
Sunk-A destroyer, mine-sweep-
er, submarine tender, two medium
cargo ships, two small cargo ships,
five coastal cargo ships. Total, IL.
/ Probably sunk-Two medium cargo
ships, four small cargo ships, one
medium oil tanker, seven coastal
cargo ships. Total, IA.
/ Damaged-Three medium cargo
ships, six small cargo ships, one de-
stroyer, two small oil tankers. Total,
IL.