Evening star., 1945-01-09
Pacific
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! PAAo1S oWCRU OYCI
Oklnawa. 1shigaki. Miyako Jima In
the Ryukyus. Okinawa was raided
IN last weeks two-day Formosa
strike which heralded intensified ac-
tlvlty In the Philippines.
Details were not available. indi-
eating the strike was continuing.
Japanese Army headquarters on
F'ormosa reported $50 carrier planes
attacked the islands for nearly 10
hours, beginning at dawn and con-
tlnuing until late afternoon. The
communique claimed II raiders were
definitely shot down and four
probably.
B-29s Also Hit Formosa.
B-29s from China also hit Formosa
while Super Forts from Saipan
bombed Tokyo. A japanese imperial
communique said so Super Forts
came over the capital in waves in
midafternoon. The japanese made
the usual claim that "our damages
on the ground are very negligible"
An announcement from 21st
Bomber Command headquarters on
Guam said substantial force of
B-29s bombed Tokyos industrial
area usually in good weather.
1t was the second Guam directed
raid for the Saipan-based bombers.
the first being the Nagoya raid, jan
uary 3.
A japanese domestic broadcast
said the daylight strike on Tokyo
was preceded by three night sorties
OF lone B-29s which dropped in
cendiaries on the Nagoya area,
southwest of Tokyo.
In 48 hours of unchecked OPERA
tions over Luzon, Navy and Marine
planes from Admiral McCain's car
rier force, and Array Philippines
based bombers and fighters blasted
airflelds on either side of Manila.
destroyed at least 14O planes, sent
japanese shipping fleeing into the
China Sea, raised havoc with jap
anese communications and estab-
lished a blockage against potential
air reinforcements from Formosa,
19 Planes Shot Down.
Associated Press War Corre-
spondent Rembert James reported
from Admiral McCain's flagship
that in two days carrier pilots
could find only Al enemy aircraft
in the air. Nineteen of these were
shot down, "a more were DESTROYED
on the ground and SO others dam
aged.
"The enemy clearly was evacuat-
ing all sizable shipping from the
islands harbors," Mr.. James said.
With hunting limited, carrier air.
men sank three stable ships and
ii small craft. Twenty-Five others
were damaged.
On these same two days-Satur-
day and Sunday-Gen. MacArthurs
airmen destroyed "A planes, mostly
caught on the ground. Liberators
and Mitchells poured 125 tons of
bombs on Clark Field, three fields
around Manila and others near Ba-
tangas. possible invasion area
just north of American-held Min
doro and Martinique Islands. They
also lashed rolling stock and install
lations in Central Luzon, probably
in the flatlands leading from Lin
gayen Gulf to Manial. The fiat
lands would make an excellent tank
battle-ground.
Sunday was the day Tokyo said
TO American warships fought a big
gun duel with japanese shore bat
teries at Lingayen.
Aussies Relieve Yanks.
Gen. Macarthur announced that
Australian and New Zealand troops
have relieved American soldiers in
the Solomons, New Britain and New
Guinea. The Yanks, now available
for duty in the Philippines, left the
southern islands secretly last Mo-
vember. Since then the Australians
have inflicted 10 japanese casualties
for every one they suffered.
Many thousands OF japanese, we'll
armed and well fed, still are In the
Solomons, New Britain and New
Guinea. Those in the SolomonsI
include the 9Th Division, responsible
for the rape of Marking. Subma-
rines are believed to supply some
OF the by-passed garrisons.
A recapitulation OF American COM
muniques showed that in December
Tor the fourth successive month
JapS lost 1000 Warplanes.