Burma - June 1942 - Trying to keep a crucial supply line open.
June 8, 1942 – Burma – China – Points East And Points South – Radio Tokyo – Radio Australia.
June 8, 1942 – News from Radio Tokyo and Radio Australia – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
June 8, 1942 – On this day, news reports from Radio Tokyo and Radio Australia give some idea as to the state of War in the Far East, with Japanese forces making advances in China, and allied forces trying to keep the Burma Road open; a vital supply route to China.
News for this day from Radio Tokyo concerned a medal ceremony taking place in Manchukuo, which was attended by Tojo, Nakamura and several other high ranking Japanese Military officials. Medals were to be awarded to some 16,310 men and officers as well as medals to some 461 dead. Likewise, the Manchukuo government announced that the Emperor of Manchukuo was awarding some 1,389 Japanese officers and men, including some 700 dead. Reports also indicated Japanese bombers were continuing their campaign in Southern China and bombed several targets in the Hunan Province area. The Japanese army also claimed victory in the Suchow region, claiming some 2,713 Chinese troops dead with a considerable amount of captured Chinese ordinance.
Meanwhile, reports were being circulated that Japan was confident the war would be over by 1943 with the capitulation fo Great Britain, followed by the total demoralization of the U.S. – the source of the assessment was coming from a former envoy to Britain.
An unusual, un-warlike news item – reports on the death of Swiss Conductor Felix Weingartner in May was to be memorialized in a concert given by the Tokyo Chamber Orchestra conducted by one of Weingartner’s former students. The newscast ends and another program featuring the voices of America Prisoners of War delivering messaged to loved one via “anyone who is listening” via “The American War Prisoners Hour”.
The news then switches to Radio Australia where reports that a Japanese fighter was shot down when two Zero’s attempted to intercept a Reconnaissance plane over New Guinea The Submarine raid on Sydney yielded not much in the way of damage which was assessed at a “few hundred dollars” and fewer than 20 homes were damaged. Prime Minister Curtin, in an address warned that the recent attacks on the Australian mainland were a harbinger of things to come and it was crucial everyone keep vigilant.
And that’s some of the news as it was given via Shortwave from the English service of Radio Tokyo and Radio Australia for June 8, 1942.
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