Evening star., 1944-07-05
Tokyo Reports
New u. 5. Attack
Closer 10 Japan.
81 Planes, 5 Ships
Destroyed in Bonins,
Nimitz Announces
MAP on Page A-2.)
BY the Associated Press.

AAe Aokyo radlo said To-Day Q
powerful naval task force still
was operating in the waters
around Chichi Jima in the Boniri
Islands, less than 500 miles
southeast of the japanese home-
land, and declared severe fight
ing" was continuing in that
area.
Chichi Jima is the last ma jor base
protecting Tokyo from the south
and east.
Chlchi Jima was shelled yesterday
by cruisers and destroyers of the
task force, which also hurled "sev-
eral hundred" carrier based planes
at the island, said the broadcast,
recorded by the Associated Press.
The two japanese broadcasts came
after an announcement last night
from headquarters of Admiral Ches-
ter w. Nimitz, commander of the
United States Pacific Fleet, that
American warships and carrier
planes had attacked the Volcano
(Kazan and BONN Islands yes
terday.
Japs Lose 3 Destroyers.
The assault resulted in the sink
ing or beaching of three Jap de.
stroyers, the sinking of two other
ships and the destruction in sky
battles of from "a to 80 planes at
a cost of nine American carrier
aircraft, Admiral Nimitz reported.
Later today the Tokyo radio
broadcast an imperial headquarters
communique acknowledging that
American forces we're advancing
steadily on Saipan Island in the
Marianas.
Saipan is -eighths in the
hands of still advancing Yank
marines and soldiers. The Ameri-
cans have completed occupation Of
Garapan, capital and main city on
Saipan. and also have taken the
town of Tanapag.
In Washington. Secretary of the
Navy Forrestal told a press confer
ence completion of the Saipan
operation may be expected with
confidence. He said that, while
American losses there have been
severe, they have been much less
than Japan's and much less than
might have been expected. consid-
ering the strength Of the enemy
forces and the desperate nature of
Japan's defense
The invaders opened a quick sup
ply route near their front line by
seizing Tanapag harbor well up the
west coast. 1t was in this advance
that they took Garapan. On the
east coast, the Yanks were within
4 miles of the islands northeastern
tip.
Shelled by Cruisers and Destroyers.
Todays Tokyo broadcasts also re-
ported repeated attacks on Two
Jima in the Volcano Islands and
said several hundred carrier based
planes had participated in these
assaults
In last nights announcement Ad-
miral Nimitz said American cruisers
and destroyers had shelled Two Jima
and that carrier-based aircraft had
attacked both that island and Haha
Jima. He made no mention of an
attack on Chichi Jima.
In the Southwest Pacific, Gen.
Douglas MacArthur's 9Th Army
troops which quickly won an air.
field on Noemfoor opened a power
house push Monday toward a second
airdrome, backed by reinforcements
parachuted to the beachhead. "-
Between the Saipan and Noem-
foor invasion scenes, the Far East
ern Air Force dealt q fairly heavy
blow at zap and also raided Palau
and Woleai in the Western Caro-
lines.
The Tokyo radio, in referring to
the Bonin-Volcano attacks, spoke
Of heavy fighting" which the Ber-
lin radio promptly interpreted as q
commando raid. Inasmuch as Ad-
miral Nimitz made no mention Of
any landing, it appeared the Japs
either referred to heavy aerial ac-
ton or reflected fears that such at.
tacks presaged landings.
Raid on Guam Reported.
The fast-breaking developments
came along q Western Pacific war
front Of more than 1000 miles
from the Bonins to Dutch New
Guineas Geelvink Bay. ...-
The Tokyo radio added to the
flaming action the unconirmed re-
port that carrier-based American
planes raided Guam, south Of Sal.
pan, Monday. .~
The enemy air base of Rota, be-
tween Guam and Saipan. was shelled
by warships and bombed by carrier
planes Sunday.
The Volcano Bonin attack was 4
two-day operation which raised to
S6 the number of Japanese ships
sunk and to 826 the total Of enemy
planes destroyed since the Western
Pacific offensive opened June 10.
tSee PACIFIC. Page A-2J