Evening star., 1945-08-09
|Ha|sey's Fleet
Resumes Aerial
Blasting Of Japs
1000 Carrier Croft
Hit North Honshu;
Opposition Slight
by the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
GUAM, Aug. 9.-Admiral Viii.
liam F. Halsey's mighty Sd Fleet
attacked Japan anew today with
more than 1900 carrier planes
and brushed aside enemy air op-
position, the first encountered
since 1t started bounding the
Japanese homeland more than a
month ago.
A dispatch from Associated Press
Correspondent AL Dopking, with the
fleet, said the armada's antiaircraft
guns thundered as the japanese
planes appeared and that he saw
two shot down. No ship reported
damage.
Many Jap Planes Set Afire.
Returned carrier pilots, who
started their attacks before dawn
against Northern Honshu, reported
many Japanese planes set af1re or
the ground, two ships sunk and at
least six others damaged.
The return of Admiral Halsey's
massive feet to waters of North
Honshu-the same sector where il
began its Red July" scourge of the
enemy feet, air force and coastal
industries-came as Admiral Chester
w. Nimitz pledged Russia the as
sistance Of the Navy.
The Tokyo radio reported that in
addition to the heavy carrier plane
attacks, surface units of the Sd
Fleet were shelling the Northeast
ern Honshu steel city Of Kamaishi,
which has 9 population Of 42'0oo. !
Tskyo Tells Of Attack.
The Japanese Domei news agency
that about 800 American
bombers and fighters raided the
western section of Honshu Island
today for three hours before noon
Japanese time).
Domei's report said the raiders
struck at Hiroshima and Yama-
guchi prefectures in Western Hon
shu after. the Super Fortress fire
bomb attack on Fukuyama.
"The attacks are now continuing, >
Admiral Nimitz said, suggesting the
same day-long type Of raids which
last month destroyed or damaged
more than 1000 enemy vessels and
more than 1900 planes.
Al Dopking, aboard warship OF
the fleet, said the flyers swarmed to
the attack elated by the news of the
devastating effect of Americas new
atomic bomb and of Russian entry
into the Pacific war. He said first
sweeps were sent over the Northern
Honshu cities of Koriyama, Masuda
Matsushima. Niigata, Sendai ano
Yabuki.
Enemy Taken by Surprise.
Mr.. Dopking said such tactica
surprise was achieved that the feet
raiders may have caught the en-.
emy's planes before they had time
to conceal them as they have in the
past by putting them in graveyards
and the back yards Of homes"
Yet the Navy called its shot only
yesterday, warning Japan boldly II
a broadcast that Admiral -Halsey
was moving in again after having
lodged a typhoon.
Even as the Sd Fleet steamed
contemptuously close to the JAP
anese coast to resume its pounding.
OF the homeland, only two Japanese
planes came near It," Mr.. Dopking''
dispatch said.
Both these were shot down lont
before they had a chance to get {
glimpse Of this Navy powerhous'
and it is doubtful If its movements
were detected, although it probably
was the noisiest approach to enemy
shores in naval history.
'On the way to the launching
area, the feet daily held antiaircraf
practice, firing thousands of rounds
at sleeve targets towed by one o.
its own planes"
20 Airfields Are Targets.
Ten days after his carrier planes
swept the width Of 6outhern Hon.
shu from Tokyo TO Maizuru, Ad.
miral Halsey struck the north enc
to clean up japanese shipping, ali
bases and other military targets.
North Honshu's potential target.
included more than 20 airflelds, {