U.S. TASK FORCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 227, 24 September 1943, Page 3

U.S. TASK FORCE

ATTACKS JAP. BASES Week-end Raids On Gilbert Islands N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 10 a.m. WASHINGTON, Sep. 23. Detailing the results of the weekend raids on the Gilbert Islands, Admiral Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Navy in the Pacific, in a communique issued at Pearl Harbour, disclosed that an air-craft-carrier task force, in collaboration with land-based Array and Navy bombers, damaged four Japanese bases, losing only four fighters, in spite of heavy anti-aircraft fire and attempted interception by enemy fighters.

The raiders made more than 200 sorties against the Islands of Tarawa, Makin, Apamama and Nauru during Saturday night and Sunday. . The communique listed the damage done as follows:—

At Tarawa Island, aerodrome facilities were heavily damaged, eight bombers destroyed on the runway, and one small vessel sunk. At Makin Island, the air base was damaged and three four-engined seaplanes and a patrol plane destroyed. At Apamama Island, camp installations were heavily hit. At Nauru Island, installations were damaged. In addition to destroying aircraft on the ground, our forces shot down six Zeros and probably shot down four others, damaged eight fighters and shot down two medium bombers. The Pearl Harbour correspondent of the New York Times says the communique indicated that the Japanese had considerably enlarged their Central Pacific bases since the last American operations more than a year ago.'

"THINGS TO COME"

SHATTERING NAVAL BLOWS Rec. 11 a.m. NEW YORK, Sept. 23. The recent attacks against the Marcus and Gilbert Islands are only the shape of things to come, said Admiral King, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Navy, addressing the American Legion Convention at Omaha. Admiral King added that the Navy's aim is to deal shattering blow's against the enemy with all the weapons that can be brought to bear, synchronised and co-ordinated in an overwhelming assault. He emphasised the importance of the Navy's swiftly growing air arm, now striking hard against enemy bases, particularly in the Pacific.