The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-07-25

(Continued from Page D CTS had won mastery of the skies, clearing the way for the knockout by the fleets Heldivers and torpedo bomoers, and were strafing the en- emy airields almost at will.
 The imperial battle fleet that steamed out to challenge the United States barely three years and seven months ago was dying inpotently in the bomb -churned waters of the Inland sea.
 At least seven enemy battleships, carriers and cruisers-virtually all of Japans surviving seapower-Were holed or set ablaze in yesterdays 1,000-plane carrier strike. Strafed Fleet
 And wave upon wave of diving, strafing American and British planes were back to finish off the cripples today.
 They came in over the burning Kure anchorage at first light of day and were still pouring bombs, rock cts and gunfire into the wrecked Japanese warships more than eight hours later.
 ''This may well mean the end of the Japanese navy" reported United Press War. Correspondent Richard W. Johnston from Admiral William F. Halsey's attacking armada.
 Part of the huge attacking force wheeled eastward along the Inland sea to bomb and shoot up Kobe harbor, 150 miles away, where other secondary units of the Japanese navy were believed hiding.
 ''Kure and Kobe have been the refuge for the Japanese navy" said Johnston. They are a refuge no longer
 There was no chance of escape for the trapped enemy warships. Swarms of night fighter planes kept constant vigil over the target area during the night. dropping flares and incendiaries into Kure harbor.
 In contrast to the wild dog fight ing that swirled over Kure all day yesterday, there was no airborne op- position when the first carrier planes roared in to the attack this morn ing.
 But the Japanese worships stil afloat and the shore batteries lining the anchorage opened up with one Of the most ferocious f1ak bar1nges ever met by Halsey's fliers in vain effort to turn back the attack.
 Bad weather hampered the first assault waves, but fleet dispatches indicated Halsey's carriers were standing close offshore to facilitate the strike-perhaps south of Shi- koku Island which lies across the Inland Sea from Kure.
 Even before the airborne blow be- gan, a fast task force of American light cruisers and destroyers raced in to within a few miles of the southeastern Honshu coast to bom- bard the Kushimoto seaplane base and other targets, 200 miles east of Kure.
 The only sign of Japanese oppo- sition there was lone picket boat that was blown out of the water by a few crashing salvoes.
 While the laundering air attack was still on. Halsey contemptuously broke radio silence to broadcast a victory message" to the United States.
 Jap Navy Floundering
 The blunt veteran. whose pro- claimed ambition is to ride the streets of Tokyo on Hirohitos white horse. hailed the fleet strike as the beginning of the final plunge Into the heart of the Japanese empire"
 "What is left Of the Japanese navy is helpless. but just for good luck We will hunt them out of their holes," he said.
 Edward R. stettinius. Jr.. when he was undersecretary and immediate ly after he succeeded Cordell Hull as secretary.
 Byrnes viii have Q far freer hand than stettinius; the latter operated under Franklin D. Roosevelt who a4aa Ma.4 .4n sa... .hE.amI a.4a.a..aaa. aMf fa