America at war! (1941–) – Part 5

Jap fliers attack fleet at Okinawa

One U.S. ship sunk and others damaged

GUAM (UP) – The Japs threw two groups of planes against American shipping off Okinawa Friday night and sank one artillery vessel and damaged others, it was announced today.

U.S. Army forces on Okinawa continued to move slowly forward.

Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz gave few details of the new Jap airstrike against the American fleet forces standing off Okinawa. He did not identify the vessel sunk nor report the type of ships damaged.

25 planes shot down

U.S. planes covering the area shot down 25 of the attacking aircraft Friday night and in sweeps through the Ryukyus chain Saturday destroyed 32 others.

Adm. Nimitz announced that Jap small craft activity also increased Friday night around Okinawa and a number of small boats, presumably some torpedo boats, were destroyed by U.S. forces.

Three small cargo ships were damaged in the area around Kyushu Saturday when Navy patrol bombers again ranged over Southern Japan.

The offensive on Okinawa progressed slowly as infantrymen wiped out pillboxes, caves and strongpoints one by one. Heavy artillery was employed to break up enemy troop concentrations in the enemy’s rear areas. Marine and Navy planes supported the troops and naval gunfire bombarded the Jap defense line above Naha for tenth day.

Japs hint new invasion

The XXIV Army Corps was steadily pressing against the strong Jap fortifications as the Tokyo radio insisted that a large American naval task force was gathered off the island in preparation for new operations.

The 27th Infantry Division drove forward on the right flank of the southern Okinawa line to the vicinity of the Machinato airdrome, only two miles from Naha. The 27th Division bypassed the village of Nakama in this advance.

Local gains were made by the 96th Division in the center of the line overlooking the town of Shuri, and by the 7th Division on the left flank within sight of Yonabaru Airfield.

Heavy support

The Army’s drive was supported by thousands of rounds of shellfire from the battleships and cruisers and air attacks by Navy and Marine pilots.

Tokyo claimed, without confirmation from the American Command, that Jap suicide planes had sunk two U.S. cruisers, one of which was said to be the USS Savannah, and damaged another.

The Jap broadcast also claimed that four large American transports had been sunk in Okinawa waters.

U.S. may abandon bombers in Britain

In Washington –
Independency of REA voted by Senate unit

$590 million loan approved by legacy

‘Frisco conference contrasted with one held in Paris

Differences are so vital that they may affect results of United Nations session


Romulo: Make conference last battlefield

Simms: Disillusionment permeates parley

Voting concession invites trouble
By William Philip Simms, Scripps-Howard foreign editor

Rebels raise Stars and Bars over Okinawa

By William McGaffin

WITH THE XXIV ARMY CORPS ON OKINAWA (April 28) – A group of unreconstructed G.I.’s who emphatically do not answer to the name “Yank” have hoisted the Stars and Bars of the Confederacy over Okinawa “to proclaim to the world that Texans and Brooklynites are not the only people fighting the war.”

Their grudge against Texas, which was a rather important part of the Confederacy, stems from the fact that these men, all Army combat correspondents, come from other Southern states. They are only a small group but are out to recruit other “rebels.” They have their eyes on Lt. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, a native of Munfordville, Kentucky.

The flag flies over a deep, log-covered dugout which shelters these “reluctant, terrified warriors,” as they call themselves, during air raids. The sound you hear coming from the dugout at night, they will have you know, is a rebel yell.

Millett: Summer camps benefit parents and children

Mothers in war work or civilian jobs relieved partially of problems
By Ruth Millett

Public warned of gold mine stock swindles

Business bureaus act on racket in Canada


Sharp gain in international travel expected after war

Americans seen promoting world stability by going abroad, spending cash
By John W. Love, Scripps-Howard staff writer

Soul of the Hitler werewolf will live –
German torture a challenge to Allies

Military war won, but we aren’t finished
By Malcolm W. Bingay, Detroit Free Press editorial director

European war nears finish, maybe by June

Resistance weak in vaunted redoubt
By Jack Bell

To you, the dead, we promise –
A sermon on Iwo over bodies of 2,000

Chaplain has message for peacemakers


Hirohito’s palace urged as target

Editorial: Will Russia learn?

Editorial: Why it must work

Editorial: New hope for the blind

Edson: Press screwballs give us blackeye at conference

By Peter Edson

Perkins: Education is good business

By Fred W. Perkins, Press Washington correspondent

Author understands adolescents

Describes boys as they really are
By Harry Hansen

Zachary Scott elated over sinister role

Man of Two Faces is a charming but murderous gent in new movie
By Maxine Garrison

I DARE SAY —
What films will they show ‘Frisco guests?

List certainly should include It Happened in Springfield
By Florence Fisher Parry

President’s tribute to Pyle to be foreword to film

Clark Gable’s gift to socialite an item – other odds and ends
By Erskine Johnson
Saturday, April 28, 1945

HOLLYWOOD, California – EXCLUSIVELY YOURS: President Truman’s tribute to Ernie Pyle will be used as the foreword to The Story of G.I. Joe. Ernie’s movie, glorifying the foot soldiers, will have a South Pacific premiere… Socialite Dolly O’Brien is displaying a jeweled cigarette case to friends in New York. It’s a gift from Clark Gable… Frances Langford’s backless evening dresses prompted Bob Hope to quip: “She’s the biggest ham in Hollywood. She gets applause both coming and going.” … Myrna Loy has dieted away so much weight they’re thinking of changing the title of the series to The Thin Woman… Kathleen (Forever Amber) Winsor has purchased a Westwood home – with four bedrooms.

Sight of the week: Veronica Lake in a white turtleneck sweater for her role in The Blue Dahlia. Veronica, incidentally, will take a full year’s retirement from the screen to have her baby.

Frank Sinatra has promised pals, we are told, that he will take a punch at me the next time we meet. Apparently, we are feuding, dating back to the time he thought we said, over the radio, that he ought to be in the Army. Another radio commentator said this and we offered to submit our scripts as proof. Instead, Frankie goes on ignoring the truth.

If it is on the level that he will take a punch at me, there are certain stipulations. The fight must be staged for the benefit of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello’s foundation to prevent juvenile delinquency and I’ll spot him the first chorus of “I Couldn’t Sleep a Wink Last Night.” If such can be arranged, I promise to stay in there and keep punching, let the bobbysocks fall where they may.