The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-06-18
B 20s in New
Phase of
War

DaA oAA my 4AAhOt
lean Superfortresses opened a new
phase OF their campaign against
Japan today, blasting four Of Nip.
pon's smaller cities with approx.
imately 5000 tons of fire-bombs.
Returning crewmembers said
that the four-pronged assault
achieved excellent" results against
industrial areas which probably
are engaged in producing, among
other things. Japan's suicide planes.
Two cities on each OF Kyushu and
Honshu were raided before dawn.
and fires were left spreading in
each of the four target areas.
Singled out for the assault were
Yokkaichi and Hamamatsu, on
Honshu, and Kagoshima and Omu.
ia, on Kyushu.
Fires Observed
As many as 33 individual fires
were observed burning in Yok.
kaichi. where members of the B-2ss
said they saw three large confla-
grations" and at least 80 others.
Smoke lowered as high as $4,000
fleet (nearly three miles) into the
skies. as other airmen said that
Kagoshima and Hamamatsu were
left blazing" and explosions were
observed at Omuta.
Anti-aircraft opposition to the
raiders ranged from none at all in
some sectors. TO heavy" in others.
Only in instances were japanese
interceptors said to have come up
to meet the B-29s, but there was no
immediate indication of the effec-
tiveness of the enemy opposition.
Each of the cities raided was of
Leg thahs2oo.00o population, bear
ing out General Lemay's recent
prediction that the smaller Japan
csc cities would feel increasingly
the weight of B-29 bombloads.
Only few days ago, Lemay said
that Tokyo, Yokohama. Nagoya,
Osaka and Kobe were gone" as
Superfortress prime targets, add
ing:
I'VE can begin the same job on
the smaller cities"
Action Follows Words
Four smaller" cities blazed and
smoked today as the Yanks be-
gan putting Lemay's words into &C
ton, and the Nipponese high COM
mand conceded that fires were
started in each OF the four places
targetted.
Some 1926 miles southwest of Ky
ushu, meantime, the Japanese APP
peared to have committed their
last available forces for the fanat-
ical defense OF Okinawa's Yaeju-
Dake escarpment line. Having al
ready lost more than $4,000 troops
slain, including Adm. Mirnoru Ota
whose body was found in cave,
the Nips were thought to have no
more than 5000 electives left.
These Japs fought frantically, and
even the hellish fire of U. S. in
cendiary bombs could not burn out
the stubborn defenders.
Hammer Defenses
As four American divisions-in-
cludbg a marine division which
Just moved into the frontlines-
hammered the escarpment defens-
es, tactical aircraft rained fire
bombs and 10000 tons of explo-
siyes upon the Japs who fought
from caves and pillboxes.
In addition, the Yanks we're sup
ported by warships offshore. tanks
and amph.tracks established on an
offshore coral reef, and massed ar
! tillery.
! Still, the japanese met the ad'
vancing marines and doughboys
with artillery and thanking fire;
small arms and automatic weapons
also sparkled from the enemy de-
fensiye positions, as Fleet Adm,
Chester w. Nimitz told Of limited
gains in most sectors, some regis
tering I'D to several bundled
yards.
In the reconquest campaign on
northern Borneo. veteran Austral'
ian infantrymen pushed TO within
sight of Toutong. gateway to Ser
las rich oil fields. Supporting and
paving the way for these Aussies
were Allied warships which raked
the town Of Toutong and the port
OF Mir.
Set Attire
Sara some Ok miles below cap