June 20, 1945; New Invasion of Ryukus:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, JUNE 20, 1945:

IOLA, KAS., WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 20, 1945

 

Hint New

Invasion

Of Ryukyus

Japs Say 100 U. S.

Transports Massed

For Attack As Okinawa

Fight Nears End

By LEONARD MILLIMAN

(Associated Press War Editor)

Tokyo broadcasts hinted today at another possible American invasion of the Ryukyu Islands 200 miles southwest of Okinawa, where Japanese troops jumped off the southern cliffs and surrendered by the hundreds, marking the virtual end of the campaign.

A hundred transports were concentrated, Tokyo said, at U. S. island bases near Okinawa, while two tusk forces, including five carriers and four battleships, moved toward Mlyako island In the almost dully raided Sakishlma group.

Tokyo also reported Allied minelayers were sweeping a channel off Balikpapan, South Pacific oil center, for a third Australian invasion of Borneo.

Active in Bonins These reports were without confirmation. It announced American naval activity a destroyer shelled and sank three Japanese vessels in the Bonin islands, between Iwo Jima and Tokyo, while other surface ships joined air forces in bombarding by-passed Jaluit island in the Marshalls.

 

Two More

Top U. S.

Officers Die

Second General Killed

In Action On Okinawa

And a Fleet Admiral

Dies- of Natural Causes

, (By the Associated Press)

The killing in action of another American general on Okinawa Island—the second in two days—was reported by the War Department today.

Almost: simultaneously the navy disclosed the death of a Pacific fleet Admiral of natural causes.

Killed on a Tuesday Brig. Gen. Claudius M. Easley, 53-Jear-old assistant commander of the 96th 4th infantry division and veteran of World -War I, met death Tuesday on Okinawa, the war department advised his wife. No details were given. The general's division ais been on the southern Okinawa battle line.

Lt. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., commander of the Tenth army, was^ killed on Okinawa Monday by a Japanese shell burst.

Rear Adm. Forrest B. Royal, 52, commander of a Pacific amphibious force, died Monday of natural causes. He was one of the top ranking Naval  officers in the recent Allied' invasion of Borneo.

Fought On Leyte

General Easley was the 18^th American, general to be killed in action since Pearl Harbor.

He had fought on Leyte island in the Philippines, where he was wounded by a Japanese sniper. He had. won the silver star and the 'Legion of Merit for his action in the Leyte and' Okinawa campaigns..

 

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The WAR

TODAY

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BY J. M. ROBERTS JR.

On Its face, the new "trustee annexation" agreement at San Francisco appears a step forward in the handling of areas and peoples which have not arrived at the status of independent nations. Actually, as in the case of so many other clauses of San Francisco's charter for a brave new world, so much depends

on subsequent interpretations and on the method of territorial assignments as to make the whole business obscure.

The charter now provides that nations which hold hegemony over peoples of non-independent areas shall report regularly to the new league on their stewardship. Apparently it applies to most present colonies as well as to such areas as the Pacific islands. In addition, nations which undertake such commitments can decide for themselves whether to annex such areas outright or to administer them as mandates. Under the clause it is presumable that annexation would not be what it seems, since the system of reporting on administration carries with it the implication that the

league will take a hand should any controlling power get off base. For instance, the United States is expected to be assigned many Pacific islands taken from Japan or which have floated in a rather nebulous state. We can annex them, as Hawaii, or we can operate directly as a league trustee. Either way, we report to the league what we are doing with them, as well as with Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Presumably we will be expected ta provide economic, social and educational benefits (those are the principal matters which the reports are to cover). But there is doubt even among the experts as to whether it applies to spots like Alaska and Hawaii.

And, to begin with, the clause specifically sidesteps the world's greatest colonial problem, India, by ascribing to her "sovereign equality" with the other United Nations. The Philippines were placed in the same category, but the difference between the status of the Philippines and India is so obvious as to require no space here.

During the war the British used a display of tanks to enforce appointment by King Farouk of Egypt of a premier satisfactory to them.

The list of countries which are definitely entitles but which operate under governments hand-picked by other nations is a long one. The charter is not at all clear as to their "sovereign status.

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