June 6, 1945: GREAT FIRES RAGE IN KOBE:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, JUNE 6, 1945:

San Antonio Express

 

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

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 6, 1945

 

Japs Fear Invasion Near;

Great Fires Rage in Kobe

8 Superforts

Are Lost

In Raid

By Associated Frees

The bomber losses — less than down over Tokyo in the big fire raid of May 29—were announced in Washington by the 20th Airforce, which said results of' the raid were excellent.

Japs and Weather Bad

Three thousand tons of fire bombs plummeted into a square mile area of Eastern Kobe, embracing the works, near area laid in ashes by two other raids in February and March. The big bombers resolutely pressed home their attacks against the worst that the Japanese and the weather could offer.

Heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire greeted the bombers as they sailed out of the banks of thunderheads and fog into the fair skies over Kobe, 250 miles southwest of Tokyo.

Jap Fighters Come Up

At least 40 aggressive Japanese fighter planes came barreling up to meet them, and by enemy account some crashed into the Superforts in suicidal attacks.

 

Okinawa Fall

To Set Up

Air Raids

By Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO, June 5.

A dark war picture for Japan was outlined by Radio Tokyo Tuesday-—B-29s leaving sections of Kobe in flames, "unmistakable signs" of an Allied invasion of Japan "in due course of time" and the situation on invaded Okinawa "most critical.

The various broadcasts, intercepted by the F.C.C., also reported, munitions production lagging and the prospects of intensified air attacks on the home islands. Kobe Still Burning

Fires burning in the eastern part of Kobe after the U.S. Superforts smacked the city were "gradually being extinguished,"

Japan's Domel news agency reported. Discussing the Okinawa situation, Domei said Tokyo'* metropolitan press was "unanimous" in agreeing that it yielded "unmistakable signs pointing to the enemy's intention to undertake a direct invasion operation against the Japanese .mainland in due course of time."

 

Japs Behead
16 Americans

By Associated Press

ILOILO, Panay (Philippines),

June 5.—It now can be disclosed that 16 American citizens, including 11 Baptist missionaries, were beheaded and three American children bayoneted to death by Japanese troops nearly two years ago. '

The story was obtained from a Filipino guerrilla who witnessed the atrocities.

The bloody savagery was displayed Oct. 20, 1943, in a peaceful mountam refuge ironically named Hopevale, "The Valley of Hope."

It was a mission settlement established by the American Baptist Foreign Missionary Society and faculty members of Central Philippine College near the village of Topaz in Capiz Province.

This occurred after the Japanese occupied the Visayan group of the Philippines in May, 1942.

 

Goering's Loot

Scouter Held

By Associated press

BERCHTESGADEN, June 5.—

Walther Hofer, German art expert who scouted occupied Europe for many of the paintings found among Hermann Goering's loot, has been placed under arrest by U.S. 7th Army authorities.