July 18, 1945; BELIEF JAPANESE MAY FOLD UNDER BOMBARDMENT:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, JULY 18, 1845:

 

Walla Walla, Wash., Wednesday, July 18, 1945

 

Japs Report
Shelling by

16 Warships

Midnight Barrage Pours

More Than 2.000 Tons

Of Bombs Into 20-Mile

Stretch of Coastline

By Associated Press

Japanese broadcasts reported allied carrier attacks and naval bombardments ripped up military defenses and war industries within 80 miles of Tokyo Wednesday for the second successive day.

London reported hearing a Tokyo broadcast that 16 warships shelled the east coast of Honshu island for about an hour at noon Wednesday.

This would be a repeat performance of a midnight barrage that poured more than 2,000 tons into a 20 mile stretch of the vulnerable Japanese coastline northeast of Tokyo

Carriers Rake Airdromes

At least 500 carrier planes from the great U. S. and British Pacific fleets, capable of putting 1.500 aircraft into the air. raked airdromes, military installations and cities on three sides of Tokyo for three hours and were still coming over at midafternoon, the enemy radio said. The strike began at noon (Tokyo time) but could match Tuesday-long attack by 1,500 aircraft.

 

Belief Grows That Japanese

May Fold Under Bombardment

By DeWitt Mackenzie

(Associated Press)

There is a growing (though softly spoken)   professional observers that the Japanese' homeland may fold up under the combined allied bombardment and blockade before the time for amphibious invasion arrives

 

This thought is based on the knowledge that the average human mind and body can stand only so much punishment without cracking up. It's true that fanatical

Jap soldiers have been battling to the death, and Japanese civilians might do the same in face of invasion. However, I think we shall make a mistake if we assume that fighting to a finish hand-to-hand 'combat is" analogous to dying from starvation combined with fierce bombardment from far-distant warplanes and warships

against which there's little or no defense. It takes a stout mentality to stand up long against an "intangible" foe.

The Tokyo government has been making no bones about the gravity of the crisis, and signs of official worry have been increasing.

It would be worth something to know what the mikado and his captains are thinking as the result of the terrific assault of the past several days. The appearance of British bombers in Japanese skies is in. itself an ill omen for Nippon, for it bespeaks the gathering of allied forces in the Orient. It means that the fighting machines of Europe are arriving in force.

 

 

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