July 31, 1945; U. S. DESTROYERS IN SURUGA GULF:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, JULY 31, 1945:

RENO, NEVADA. TUESDAY. JULY 31. 1945

 207 Vessels,

430 Planes Hit
In Two Days
Daring Destroyers
Go to Suruga Gulf
To Bombard Plant

GUAM, July 31. (.P)—Raiding Allied carrier planes destroyed or damaged 207 Japanese vessels and 430 planes in two days, Admiral Nimitz announced today as daring U. S. destroyers knifed deep into Suruga gulf to bombard the enemy's largest aluminum plant.

ATTACKS CONTINUE

The bombardment, 80 miles southwest of Tokyo, was the seventh against Japan and carried the combined American-British sea-air attacks into the 22nd consecutive day.

Preliminary reports on yesterday's aerial sweeps over 400 miles of Honshu island and revised totals on last Saturday's devastating attack which wrote the end to the imperial navy showed a total of 52 enemy warships sunk or damaged.

Most of them were crippled or sent to the bottom at two naval bases—Kure and Maizuru.

12 Jap Cities

Given Warning
Areas Marked
For Destruction

GUAM, July 31. (AP) — Twelve Japanese cities, including four previously warned, were given notice tonight by Maj. Gen. Curtis E. Lemay that they are marked for destruction by American Superfortresses.

TOLD TO FLEE

"Evacuate these cities immediately," the commander of the 20^th air force warned in 720,000 leaflets dropped from six Superforts on the doomed municipalities. More than 1,300,000 persons live in the 12 cities.

Thus for the second time within four days General Lemay gave advance notice to Japan of industrial and military targets where the B-29s soon will apply the torch.

The eight cities added to the previous list are Mito, Hachioji, Maebashi Toyama, Nagano, Fukuyama, Otsu and Maizuru, all industrial and transportation centers on Honshu.

Today's notice also included Nagaoka and Nishmomiya on Honshu, Hakodate on Hokkaido and Kurume on Kyushu which were given their first warning last Saturday. Koriyarha on Honshu was also on the first warning list but was not mentioned today.

 Hirohito's Fate

Splits War Allies
Treatment To Be Given Emperor
Complicates Demand for Surrender

Washington, July 31, (AP)  Allied councils are divided sharply over the treatment to be accorded Emperor Hirohito of Japan.

The difference of views, which spreads among groups within the United States government as well as among other governments, is understood-here to have been the basic reason why- the Potsdam ultimatum to Japan omitted all reference to Hirohito or to the monarchyas an institution.

As a result, the way still is open for the Japanese to try to save their emperor as the Pinnacle of their government. However. American officials say they are hurting their chances by delaying inevitable capitulation.

Although Premier Suzuki's rejection of the Potsdam demand is described here as something of a poker move in the hope of winning higher stakes, there is at the moment a lessening hope of any immediate surrender on the part of Tokyo.

 

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