WAKE ISLAND RAIDS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 1, 12 October 1943, Page 3

WAKE ISLAND RAIDS.

EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. LONDON, October 10. The United States aeroplanes which raided Wake Island last week destroyed 61 enemy aircraft. The raid was carried out on . Tuesday and Wednesday by a carrier task force and land-based naval Liberators. Thirteen American aeroplanes are missing.—British Official Wireless. Admiral Nimitz’s communique reporting the attack says that Wake, Peale, and Wilkes islands were all attacked. Two small petrol-laden vesvels were destroyed. Damage to American ships and casualties to personnel were negligible. Although the communique makes no estimate of Japanese casualties, a Liberator pilot says he saw a considerable number of enemy dead. THE IMPORTANCE OF WAKE. SYDNEY, October 11, The “Sydney Morning Herald” says: “In any attempt to bring down the outer part of the hastily-occupied Japanese empire, Wake Island could play a part comparable with that of Rabaul, 2100 miles to the south-west. The airfield on the main island of Wake would bring the Americans 2300 miles west of Honolulu. Since Wake Island has been raided from Honolulu five times in the last 16 months, then Tokio could be attacked from Wake Island, since the distance is 400 miles shorter. The great Japanese base of Truk is only 1200 miles from Wake Island, and many intervening hideouts would also be open to attack by air. Wake Island is also important as a forward naval base.”