Evening star., 1945-06-27
.Yanks Reported
On Isle West
|0f 0kinawa
Jops Predict Landing
In China Preparatory
To Blow at Homeland
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
GUAM, June 27.-The Tokyo
radio today reported American
invasion forces were fighting
their way onto Kume Island, so
miles west of Okinawa, and pre-
dicted American assault forces
may land on the China coast
preparatory to invading Japan.
The unconfrmed report on the
Kume invasion said heavy fighting
is now in progress" 1t described
the action as fresh landing" in
the Central Ryukyu Islands where
Americans are developing new bases
to hit the enemy homeland.
Tokyo quoted Maj. Gen. Masori
Ito, one of Japan's leading military
commentators, as saying there was
no immediate prospect of an inva-
sion of Japan and Okipawa is "to-
tally unsuitable as a base for large
scale operations.
Another broadcast quoted the
Tokyo newspaper Yomiuri Hochi as
noting "the possibility is great that
the enemy will attempt a landing
on the China continent in prepara-
ton for the actual invasion Of
Japan"
Island 8 Miles Long.
Between Kume and Okinawa are
the American-held Kerama Islands
which for days Tokyo has reported
swarming with invasion forces.
Kume, shaped like a dogs head
pointed toward the China coast, is
due west of Okinawas capital city
Of Naha, and within 300 miles OF
Formosa.
On the west side, from the tip of
the dogs nose southeastward, its
coastline is miles long. One height
on the north end rises over 900
feet and another near the south
end up to approximately 920 feet.
An an-weather highway traverses
large part of the island.
More Japs Rounded Up.
Meanwhile, American 10th Army
forces mopping up Okinawa ran
Japanese losses up to Ill, ,351, round
ing up So2 more prisoners. as action
elsewhere in the Ryukyus was
limited to continuing air attacks
at the southern end.
| The new bag of prisoners in
creased the captive total to 9,498.
One group was taken in by 10th
Army mop-up squads when caught
wading, neck deep, in surf on the
southern end of Okinawa, trying to
sneak north to become guerriilas.
In the northern sector, japanese
hldeout remnants ambushed and
killed six Americans.
headquarters reported that II
enemy planes were shot down Mon
day night by antiaircraft batteries
and night fighters during series Of
small scale attacks on the Okinawa
area which did no damage" Slow
enemy float planes, which ordinarily
can carry only sufficient gasoline for
roundtrip fight from Kyushu,
were among the raiders.
Island Group Raided.
The only action reported officially
elsewhere in the Ryukyus was an
attack by Marine Corsairs and
Avengers on the Sakishima group
OF Islands, southernmost of the
chain. Monday and Tuesday.
On Okinawa, headquarters said
the increasing trend to surrender
continued. many of these Japanese
displaying leaflets scattered over
the island by our forces"
In other Pacific air action the
great Marianas Super Fortress fleet
added Japan's principal remaining
aviation gasoline refinery to its list
OF bombed industrial targets.
Fifty Fortresses struck the Ut.
sube River oil refinery near Yok-
ka1chl, 18 miles southwest of Ma.
lgoya, before midnight last night
less than IA hours after 500 other
B-2Ss pounded 10 aircraft, gun and
ammunition plants in the greatest
demolition sweep ever made against
Japan.
B-29 Scouting Reported.
The Japanese said two Super
Fortresses, ranging far to the north,
secuted the southern part of Hok-
kaldo, northernmost of the home
islands, today.
Since the destruction of fuel pro-
ducing plants at Tokuyana and
Otake in a May 10 strike on Hon.
shu, the Utsube plant has been ia
pans biggest remaining producer
OF aviation gasoline. The plant had
1 (See PACIFIC, Page A-l6.)
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