Evening star., 1945-06-12
Jap Shore Batteries Blasted
Stranded Lonoshow

Japanese shore batteries opened
up on the destroyer Longshaw
stranded on a reef a mile off Naha
shortly before noon today and with
in seven minutes detonated hel
magazine, blasting her to bits
More than two-thirds of the de-
stroyer's personnel was lost.
The destroyer was shelling JAP
anese-held southern Okinawa and
was nosing through apparently safe
waters previously navigated success
fully by other ships when its hull
caught on coral reef.
The ship had been on the reef
almost two hours and q half and a
tug had come to her aid before
japanese guns from the direction OF
Naha fired. The fifth shell caused a
terrific explosion, showering ships
debris upon men struggling in the
water and killing or wounding a
large number
Radioman Is Hero.
One of the heroes who mirac-
llouSly escaped death was 21-year-
old Radioman 1/C James j. Zikus,
Peoria, Ill, VINO boarded the de-
stroyer from the tugboat to relay
reports to the tug skipper and re-
manned aboard even after the de-
stroyer skipper ordered abandon
ship" Finally, he was blown from
the bridge into the water.
The most vivid account of the dis
aster was given by skipper of the
salvage tug, 1t. John Aitken Of
Forest Hills, Long Island. He
boarded the destroyer and conferred
with her captain-who was soon to
die with his ship-then took sound
ings from a small boat all around
the ship before ordering towing
cable made fast. The destroyer had
been shifting ammunition from the
forward magazine to the fantail to
! tighten the bow. 1t. Aitken sent
Radioman Zikus aboard the de-
stroyer with a radio set to make re-
ports to the tugs communications
officer, 1t. Charles F. Barber of
Providence, R. I.
"The tug had been trying for 8
minutes to work the destroyer clear
when the enemy shore batteries
opened on the destroyer" 1t. Aitken
said.
First Shot Missed.
'The first shot was a near miss,
a hundred feet off. The second
hit the destroyer forward, knocking
out some port batteries.
''The destroyer by this time was
countering the enemy guns with its
own fire. A third enemy shot hit
the bridge on the port side, knock
ing down the mast.
"Radioman Zikus reported to 1t,
Barber that the destroyer's skipper
came out of the wheelhouse with a
bloody hand, but very cool and
calm.
"a fourth shot hit the DESTROYER
on the port side under the bridge.
Word came from Zikus that the
destroyer commander had given
orders to abandon ship. Until this
time - minutes after shelling
started-the tug and destroyer had
both been working with full power
trying to clear the reef.
''The power on the destroyer
stopped. The crew commenced
Jumping over the side. Many al
ready had been blown over. Radio
man Zikus was still at his station on
the bridge.
"A fifth shell hit the destroyer a
minute later, causing terrific ex-
plosion. Men and equipment flew
high in the air.
Must Have Hit Magazine.
THAT shot must have hit a mag
azine filled with hundreds Of bags
of 5-inch ammunition. A fuel tank
was blown open, throwing two large
Sticks Of burning fuel $50 yards
from the ship. Fuel oil also was
burning so feet all along the port
side forward of the destroyer. I be-
lieve many Of the personnel were
burned to death by burning oil.
1.-TWO minutes after that terrifi-
cally damaging fifth shell, the jap
anese shore batteries opened up on
my tug. The first shot landed 1OC
feet of port quarter as we moved
from the destroyer. As shells con-
tinued to straddle our stern, COM
menced using evasive action. A
near miss so feet away threw oul
gyrocompass repeaters out of the
gimbles. About 10 more shells were
fired at us before we cleared, bul
there were no hits.
1--WE fired back with our 3-incf
and 40-mm. guns. After gettinf
clear We put two motor whaleboatl
into the water and sent them in. tx
pick up survivors.
Firefighters Go Aboard.
"In the early afternoon our fire
fighting officer, 1t. Charles A. Hick'
ley, New York City, went aboard tn,
destroyer with an eight-man fire
| lighting crew, equipped with pumps
They reported everything forwar,
completely blown up, the forwars
engine room burning furiously ans
ready boxes commencing to explod,
all over the after end of the shil
from the intense heat.
"Lt. Hickey ordered his men t,
abandon ship. They brought Of
10 bodies and said there were n,
living personnel still aboard.
1--WE spent the rest Of the after.