May 15, 1945:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, MAY 15, 1945:

San Antonio Express

MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS—LEASED WIRE SERVICE UNITED PRESS, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, NEW YORK TIMES

Doolittle May Return to Pacific War

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 15, 1945

 

 

Famed Flyer

To Get New

Assignment

By Associated Press

LONDON, May 14.—Lt. Gen. James H. Doolittle, who led the war's first bombing

blow at Tokyo and then directed the U.S. 8th Airforce in its victorious blasting of

Germany, turned over his European command to a colleague Monday amid immediate speculation that "he would return to the Pacific conflict.

An official announcement from the U.S. Strategic Airforce in Europe said only that Doolittle would r e t u r n to Washington headquarters of the U.S. ArmyAirforces "for a new assignment" but in his final press conference here Friday the famous speed flyer showed his thoughts were centered now on the Japanese.

"So far as Japan is concerned, our basic strategy will be weakening the' enemy from the air to enable occupation of the land by ground forces," he explained, adding that the burden of bombing' Nippon would be carried by the B-29 Superforts with B-17 Fortresses and B-24 Liberators employed as medium bombers.

Flyers Go to Pacific

Part of the 8th Airforce he headed will go directly to the Pacific a l t h o u g h considerable numbers will be kept in the European theater as part of the

Allied occupational airforce and others will return to the United States.

 

Tokyo Fears

Home Front

May Break

By-Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO, May 14.

A note of official concern over the morale on the Japanese home front crept into Tokyo radio broadcasts today as Japan, hit by the rising fury of the A m e r i c a n air attack, girded for her greatest crisis.

Urging prefectural governors to speed organization of volunteer corps to defend Japan against invasion, Premier Kantaro. Suzuki expressed solicitude that the spirit of the people might impair the empire's chances for victory.

Suzuki told the 46 governors, assembled in Tokyo, that the faith! of the homefront in its leaders is the "key to victory-"

 Unless the people believe in you,  and have faith in you," he added, "good results can not beaccomplished."

Air Attacks Continue

This and other broadcasts giving an insight into the war situation in Japan were intercepted by the federal communications commission.

 

Goering's Host

Disapproves Friendly Treatment

Accorded High Nazi Officers

By Associated Press

LONDON, May 14.—General Eisenhower cracked down sharply on senior American officers for their reported friendly treatment of high German war prisoners Monday after the British press had expressed hot indignation at the

"sheer impertinence" of Nazi leaders and German officers  since Germany's surrender.

"We have to watch these Germans," the London Evening: News warned. "Unless we are very careful, they are going to get away with it again."

Ike Speaks Up

Eisenhower said: "My attention has been called to press reports of instances of

senior U.S. officers treating captured Nazi and high German officials on a 'friendly enemy' basis. Any such incident has been in direct violation of my express and long-standing orders.