BOMBARDMENT OF KISKA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23718, 17 August 1942, Page 5

BOMBARDMENT OF KISKA

3000 SHELLS FIRED AT MAIN CAMP

ENEMY SHORE BATTERIES SILENCED (Received August 16, 10.30 p.m.)

(N.Z.P.A.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 15. Further details of raids made on Kiska in the Aleutians by a United States task force on August 8 and 9 are given in a Navy Department communique, which reveals that a fourth enemy vessel —a destroyer—was heavily damaged and left burning. A fleet of about 10 cargo ships and transports and four submarines was observed in the harbour before the bombardment by the task force, which encountered opposition from shore batteries and seaplane fighters. The American ships were not damaged. Only one aeroplane was lost. More than 3000 shells were fired into the main enemy camp. Large fires were started. A secondary camp was also heavily bombarded. All the batteries ashore were silenced.

“The Japanese toehold in Kiska and Attu constitutes a potential threat, but the situation is not serious," said a ranking naval officer who has returned from the Aleutians. He added: "If we needed Kiska we could take it. The Japanese are due lor a surprise if they attempt a major attack."

The officer minimised the importance of the Aleutians in general Pacific strategy. Mr W. G. Magnuson. a member of Congress, who has returned from a visit to Alaska, said he was convinced the military plan was to pulverise Kiska out of commission or tak£ it by invasion before the winter. Interviewed at Seattle. Mr Magnuson yesterday alleged that United States bombers last June lost a chance to annihilate a Japanese surface force, including an aircraft-carrier, “because of an unfortunate failure of Army and N.avy co-operation.” He said the Navy informed the Army Command that a Japanese task force was located within operating distance, and requested the aid of land-based Army aeroplanes against the Japanese. The Army Command, however, did not believe its orders warranted sending an air force and consequently the Japanese escaped unscathed. Mr Magnuson added, however, that the Army and Navy in Alaska were now working in the closest co-opera-tion. "There is no possibility of this happening again,’’ he said. GERMAN LOSSES AT LENINGRAD RUSSIAN ADVANCES ON NORTHERN FRONTS (Received August 10, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 16. A German punitive column on the Leningrad front suffered heavy losses. A force of 2000 men with 10 tanks, armoured cars, and aircraft was sent out to fight Russian guerrillas, but lost a quarter of its men and six tanks. “Pravda” reports that strong German attacks on the Leningrad front have been beaten back with heavy enemy losses. A German communique on Saturday said numerous Russian attacks had been frustrated south-east of Lake Ilmen and Volkhov. There is official news' of a Russian advance on the Bryansk front, where the Germans have been thrown out of another village. Quoting a Stockholm report, the Vichy radio says the Germans have sent reinforcements of aeroplanes and possibly troops to meet Russian attacks in the Rzhev, Vyazma, Bryansk, and Voronezh sectors.

A German communique on Saturday said the Russians in the Voronezh area had continued vain diversionary attacks. There is official news from Moscow of a Russian advance. at Voronezh.

It is reported from Moscow that three Russian submarines have returned to a Baltic port after sinking nine German transports and a U-boat. It was earlier reported that the Russians had gained several positions on the Bryansk front, where they had made heavy attacks against German fortified lines.

German reports emphasise the growing scale of difficulties in a fortnight’s battle at Rzhev, which the Russians scarcely mention. The Germans claim to be holding the. Russian attacks in the bogs.

PARACHUTE CLIPPED ON IN MID AIR

BOMBER CAPTAIN’S FEAT (8.0. W.) RUGBY, August 14. ’ With amazing coolness and presence of mind, the captain of a bomber which was blown to pieces during the 1000-bomber raid on Cologne on the night of May 30, clipped his parachute on to its harness after he was thrown out of the wrecked machine. "When we were set alight by fighters I gave the word to jump, and reduced speed to make things easier," commented the airman, who is now a prisoner of war. “The second pilot handed me my parachute. At the same moment another attack carried away part of the main-plane and we turned upside down and started spinning. I tried to stop the spin, as none of us could move, but I could not get at the rudders and I was about passing put with smoke: also, we were getting cooked. "Suddenly there was a hell of a crash and I found myself alone in space with my parachute in my hand. I clipped it on—a difficult and alarming experience—and it opened at what seemed hardly more than tree height. I landed very heavily. The sky was raining bits of aeroplane, which must have come to pieces, as we were all flung out like this except the tail gunner.” ' The wireless operator also escaped and was taken prisoner, but the rest of the crew were killed. In bombers the crews wear the harness but not parachutes, which are clipped on when the order is given to bail out.

BLACK MARKET SALES

ALLEGED

U.s. DEALER IN STEEL INVOLVED

CLEVELAND (Ohio), August 14. The Office of Price Administration has obtained a temporary restraining order in the Federal Court against a steel dealer involved in the alleged black market steel operations. The attorney for the Office of Price Administration said that the proceedings were aimed at the prevention of black market sales of steel. He alleged that Willard Markle, a Cleveland steel buyer, purchased steel from various warehouses and resold it o Higgins’ Industries, Inc., at a price averaging 20 dollars a ton above the ceiling price.

The injunction suit specifically charged Markle with disposing of 160,0001b of steel to Higgins’ Industries jjf ttHcps Markle told official Investigators that he carried his office In his hat. Markle is alleged to have netted profits totalling 5000 'dollars from black market steel in one week.

Argentine Attache Killed.—The Argentine Military Attache at Rio de Janeiro (Lieutenant-Colonel Camilo Gay) was found in a desolate cave on the outskirts of the city, shot dead. The police say that robbery was not the motive, as money was found on the body.—Rio de Janeiro, August 14. British Propaganda Newspaper.—The first issue of “Britanskyi Soyuznik’’ (British Ally) illustrated weekly newspaper published in Russia by the press department of the British Embassy in Kuibishev has appeared. It will present all aspects of the British war effort.—London, August 15.