June 23, 1944; Japaneses Fleet in Hiding:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, JUNE 23, 1944:

Pearl Harbor (INS) 

Japan's imperial fleet, chief bulwark of the Nipponese homeland, cowered in hiding today from the probing quest of American carrier-borne planes which had sunk or damaged at least 14 ships in a great victory that may materially shorten the Pacific war.

Nearly 100 American, aircraft carriers are operating in the Pacific, the

Navy disclosed Thursday night in a, statement which also revealed

the existence of task force 58 — so powerful it can launch well over 1,000 planes and "can be moved at will throughout the Pacific, even to Japan Itself."

 By United Press

A Japanese imperial headquarters communique claimed Thursday night that five American air-. craft carriers were sunk or .damaged in the two-day engagement

west of the Marianas and admitted. , the loss of one aircraft carrier and: two tanker

LONDON (UP)-

A new robot attack on southeast England early today (Friday) started the second week of the German flying bomb offensive, while Allied bomber and fighter forces blasted robot emplacements near Pas de Calais

Twin Falls, Idaho, Friday Morning, June 23, 1944

Carriers Continue Search for Nips'

Shattered Sea Force; Four Vessels

Sent to Bottom, 10 Others Damaged

By Richard Hiller

International News Service Correspondent

Pearl Harbor (INS) 

Japan's imperial fleet, chief bulwark of the Nipponese homeland, cowered in hiding today from the probing quest of American carrier-borne planes which had sunk or damaged at least 14 ships in a great victory that may materially shorten the Pacific war.

A mighty enemy task force, comprising an estimated 25 per cent or more of Japan's entire grand battlefleet, was sent fleeing under cover of darkness after the carrier aircraft of America's powerful Fifth fleet caught and hammered the Jap armada at dusk Monday. An enemy aircraft carrier was among four vessels sent to the bottom

while ten or more ships were crippled, some perhaps fatally.

This smashing defeat, one of the worst the Japs have yet suffered, was inflicted on

the enemy task fleet in the no man's sea" about 750 miles west of the American invaded Marianas and midway on the U. S. comeback path to the Philippines.

100 Carriers Now

Prowl Pacific,

U. S. Navy Reveals

WASHINGTON (TO-

Nearly 100 American, aircraft carriers are operating in the Pacific, the

Navy disclosed Thursday night in a, statement which also revealed

the existence of task force 58 — so powerful it can launch well over 1,000 planes and "can be moved at will throughout the Pacific, even to Japan Itself."

It said that with B-29 Superfortresses striking from the west and task force 58 hitting from the east, "the once impregnable Japanese homeland has at last come within range of strategic bombing forces.

Harbor Ports Stormed from Rear in

Final Assault Following Terrific

Blasting by Massed Guns, 1,000 Planes

By EDWARD W. BEATTY

United Press War Correspondent

ALLD3D SUPREME HEADQUARTERS, London (UP)

—American troops launched a tremendous final assault on Cherbourg Thursday after massed guns a,nd more than

1,000 planes smashed its defenses, and La a double outflanking

drive the Yanks were reported storming the city's

harbor forts from the rear.

Flying columns of Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley's troops drove up to the north coast on either side of Cherbourg, penning its defenders in a 30-square-mile cauldron, and slicing the German line across the upper Contentin peninsula into three segments.

These American troops were now reported closing in on Cherbourg from both sides along the coast, meeting resistance mainly from mortars and light arms since the Germans had lost most of their 88 - millimeter cannon in the bombardments and the coastal guns were trained seaward.

Japs Claim Naval

Victory Over US.

5 Carriers Sunk or

Damaged, Tokyo Says

By United Press

A Japanese imperial headquarters communique claimed Thursday night that five American air-. craft carriers were sunk or .damaged in the two-day engagement

west of the Marianas and admitted. , the loss of one aircraft carrier and: two tankers.

The communique, broadcast by Tokyo radio and recorded in San Francisco by Unite'd  Press ,declared that more than 100 IT’S  aircraft were destroyed in the Sunday and Monday actions.

Claim Battleship Hit

The enemy broadcast also claimed one American battleship was among the vessels sunk or damaged. Japanese losses included 50 aircraft, the Japanese broadcast said.

The reading of. the headquarters communique was preceded by the playing of the navy march, reserved only for occasions when news of naval importance is being issued

Germans Resume

Robot Assault

LONDON (UP)-

A new robot attack on southeast England early today (Friday) started the second week of the German flying bomb offensive, while Allied bomber and fighter forces blasted robot emplacements near Pas de Calais.

The A l l i e d counter offensive against the robot planes sent three fleets of heavy bombers smashing  against the Calais area Thursday in the wake of a daylight R.A.F. raid Wednesday.

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