Evening star., 1945-06-25
Yanks Launch
Raids on Japan
From 0kinawa
Enemy Toll on Island
Now 101 1853 Dead
And J, 1902 Captured

Now 101 1853 Dead
And 1902 Captured
By the Associated Press.
GUAM, June 25.-Hard-won
OkinaWa was paying off as 'an
airbase today, with American
raids announced against Kyushu
the Sakishimas and elsewhere in
the Western Pacific, while the
last scattered Japanese survivors
were being killed or rounded up.
Admiral Chester w. Nimitz an
nounced that extensive patrols using
rifles and grenades had raised the
enemy casualties through Saturday
to 101,853 dead and 1902 captured
Small bands of Japanese still were
trying vainly to filter into the
northern hills of Okinawa, which
already has cost them more dead
than any single Pacific island with
the possible exception of Luzon.
While this plodding land action
was in progress, Army Thunderbolt
planes on Saturday bombed Itazuki
airfield on Northern Kyushu, one of
Japan'S home islands.
Southern Ryukyus Attacked.
Army and Marine planes made a
series Of neutralizing strikes on the
Sakishima group in the Southern
Ryukyus, possibly contributing to a
marked decline in Japanese air at
tacks on Okinawa.
After 48 hours of stiff fighting
over Okinawa Thursday and Friday,
in which SO enemy planes were de-
stroyed and two light American
naval ships were sunk and three
damaged. the japanese sent out
only snooper aircraft on Saturday
American Mustangs based on Two
Jima struck hard at two enemy air
fields on Honshu, north of Tokyo.
on Saturday, destroying or damag-
ing SO planes in the air or on the
ground for loss of three of their
own.
Other American raiders ranged
far and wi 1e, exploding small
freighter in Tsushima Straits and
bombing the Palaus on Saturday,
bombing Marcus Island and the
Marshalls and shooting down a JAP
anese fighter over the Kuriles on
Sunday.
Heavier Blows Promised.
Promising much heavier air blows,
Gen. Henry H. Arnold, commander
OF United States Army Air Forces,
said Super Fortresses based on Oki-
nawa could carry twice the bomb
loads they now fling on Japan from
the Marianas. The peak of the air
assault will come some time in the
fall, he said.
At press conference at Honolulu
yesterday, Gen. Arnold advocated
retention of an extensive string of
Pacific Island bases in the interest
of Americas future security.
Our air power must be in posi-
ton to carry our attacks home to
the heart of any aggressor who may
threaten U.S." Gen. Arnold en-
phasized. Our own B-29s already
can strike anywhere in the world
if we keep the use of certain stra-
tegic bases"
He cited as essential for our
future security the islands of the
Marshalls, Palaus, Volcanoes, Bo-
nins and Ryukyus, as well as unre-
stricted use of Wake, Marcus, Can
ton, Palmyra and Christmas islands
and American Samoa.
Convinced Bridge" is Necessary.
Returning from a tour of Pacific
bases, have come back convinced
we must have bridge across the
Pacific. The future peace of the
world depends on our doing this.
Indeed, the fate of mankind may
depend upon it,"
Two Jima already has saved 1,100
Super Fortresses which have made
emergency landings there, he said,
and has demonstrated the import
ance of American possession of such
bases.
1--WE must be able to take ad-
vantage OF the terrific power and
mobility of the strategic air force
the United States has built up
the greatest in the world" Gen.
Arnold said.
Americas entire Strategic Air
Force can be moved from San Fran
cisco to Okinawa in 36 hours,
which is something to think about.
We shouldn't allow anything to
stop us from taking advantage of
the power such strategic air force
has"
Tokyo Not Top Target.
Tokyo itself no longer is a top
priority target because it has been
virtually destroyed, Gen. Arnold
said, but it may be necessary to do
some pin-point bombing there to
destroy individual items missed in
previous raids.
Asked If he felt that airpower
alone could knock Japan out of
the war, he replied, II can only
point to Germany, which got only
small part of what Japan is
going to get"
He described the japanese air
force as already ION the down.
grade"
Asked how long it would take To