Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-09
Minor Ship Sinkings
Off Ryukyus Fail 10
Slow Up Campaign
BY the Associated Press.

GUAM, May 9.-Twenty-six
minor United States fleet units,
ranging from ammunition ships
to landing craft, have been sunk
by Japanese aerial assaults
off the Ryukyus "but these losses
have not slowed up the Pacific
campaign" Admiral Chester w.
Nimitz said today.
" don't think the results they (the
Japanese) are achieving compensate
for the losses they are taking" the
admiral told correspondents at a
press conference. Some 5000 enemy
aircraft have been destroyed since
start of the Ryukyus campaign
March Is.
He described Okinawa as the larg-
est and closest "rung in the island
ladder approach to Japan" 1t is
the most important objective Amer
lean forces have attempted to take
in the Pacific.
10 Jap Vessels Blasted.
Japan's expenditure of its re-
naming air forces in persistent sui
eide attacks on American shipping
off Okinawa is proof it regards
Okinawa as highly important and is
making sacrifices to defeat us
there,".he said.
II hope they are shooting the
works and we find fewer planes at
other places"
Admiral Nimitz held his press
conference shortly after issuing to-
days communique reporting that
Navy planes sank or damaged 10
Japanese ships and smaller craft off
Korea and Honshu and that Army
Mitchells damaged another off
Honshu.
For a third straight day battle
ships and cruisers heavily bonn
barded Japanese Notifications in
the Southern Okinawa line yes
terday and fired hundreds of il
Illuminating shells by night to "ef-
fectively reduce the enemys at
tempts at inf1ltration."
Heavy Rain Boys Roads.
Adverse weather held American
ground forces to no substantial
gains. Associated Press Correspond
ent Vern Haugland reported from
Okinawa that heavy rain begged
down roads.
japanese vessels sunk off For
mosa by Navy search planes were |
a small freighter- transport and a
large fleet oiler, totaling $4,000 tons.
Three ships, totaling $500 tons, were
damaged: One trawler, set afire;
one small freighter-transport, fired
and left listing, and one small
freighter, left listing and dead in
the water.
Of Honshu, the newly announced
Fleet Air Wing 10 sank two small
cargo ships, one large fishing craft
and one coastal cargo vessel. 1t
damaged four small cargo ships,
four large fishing vessels and one
coastal cargo vessel. It also shot
down a four-engine flying boat.
Navy search bombers have bag
bed large oiler or tanker every
day Of the past week in aerial block
ace operations in Korean-Japanese
waters. This attrition on Japans
oil and gasoline supply sorely hurts
the enemy in one of his most critical
war material needs.
More Marines in Action.
The Nimitz communique disclosed
that the Sd Marine Amphibious
Corps is on the Southern OkinaWa
line along with the Oath Army Corps.
Last week the admiral had reported
the LIST Marine Division in. action
there. Today's disclosure indicates
that the 9Th Marine Division also
has gone into the southern line.
Admiral Nimitz further reported
the I'd Marine Aircraft Wing, using
Okinawa airfelds, destroyed 209 en-
envy aircraft through Monday. Ma
rine pilots began using the fields
about month ago.
Admiral Nimitz told correspond