June 24, 1945: SUICIDE PLANES SHOT DOWN:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, JUNE 24, 1945:

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 24, 1945

8,000 More

Foe Troops
Slaughtered

By Associated Prea»

GUAM, June 24. — The downing of 59 Japanese suicide planes in 48 hours at Okinawa and the slaughter on the ground of 8,000 more enemy troops, raising total

Japanese casualties to 105,496, were announced today by fleet headquarters. The enemy's mass surrenders soared the prisoner total to 6,932.

Army and marine fighters, warship and shore guns bagged the enemy planes—35 were downed in three hours—during a series of strong raids begun Thursday, the day Okinawa was declared secured, and which continued up to midnight Friday.

Mustangs Get 69

Sixty-nine more enemy planes were destroyed or damaged by P-51 Mustang fighters from Iwo which struck two enemy air-

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Bombing Nazis Got

Amateurish—Arnold

By Associated Press

OKINAWA, June 20 (Delayed).—

General H. H. Arnold, five-star chief of the U.S. Army Airforces. predicted today Japanwould have little industryleft by fall, and added primly:"What Germany saw (in the way of air war) is only an amateurish effort compared to what Japan is going to get.

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 fields north of Tokyo Saturday.

Three Mustangs were lost. Enemy planes in the formations attacking Okinawa Thursday and Friday included high quality pilots flying new type fighters and twin-engined Betty bombers.

Tokyo radio broadcast elaborate claims of more than. 20 American ships sunk or damaged, including two battleships, but Admiral Chester W. Nimitz made no additions to the previous acknowledgement of two light naval units sunk, an auxililary and two other ships damaged Thursday night.

Tactics More Skillful

The air battles of intercepting marine Corsairs and army Thunderbolts with the raiding "first team" reached its height Friday morning. One Zeke fighter was rammed and knocked out by a marine Corsair pilot who had exhausted his ammunition. The marine flyer bailed out and was rescued from the water.

 

Japs Facing

Gravest Crisis, /

Says Hirohito

By Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO, June 23.—

Japan's new voluntary military service act was announced to the empire Saturday'-with a message from Emperor Hirohito stating Nippon's "present crisis is unprecedented in scope in her national history."

Domei agency, in broadcasts heard by the F.C.C., said the emperor expressed satisfaction at the valor and courage of the Japanese people, and war Minister

Korechika Anami declared that the service act, recently passed by the diet, "laid the foundation for sure victory."

The act, which became effective Friday, established a people's volunteer corps combat force to protect Japan in case of invasion.

Arms Move lauded

It will enable the Nipponese to "take up arms under the direct command of his imperial majesty and to participate in operations at their places of living or working," said Anami. He called the act the "greatest step in Japanese military history since the adoption of universal military conscription in 1873.

While an emergency grant of power by the diet to Premier Kantaro Suzuki to permit his government to rule by decree became effective Saturday, there already is speculation in Tokyo that Emperor Hirohito might take supreme command in the nation's crisis.

 

THE WAR

IN THE PACIFIC

JAPAN — Suzuki government assumes dictatorial power to meet powerful U.S. air, sea and land blows against Japanese mainland.

Borneo----Aussies seize Seria oil fields without opposition, as Jap resistance ends on Tarakan, rich oil island, off East Borneo coast. PHILIPPINES — Cagayan Valley campaign nears end as U.S. Army and guerrilla forces near junction..

OKINAWA—Tanks shoot down 59 Japanese planes—35 in three hours—during 48-hour period in Okinawa area.

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