U.S. LANDING IN ALEUTIANS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23948, 15 May 1943, Page 5

U.S. LANDING IN ALEUTIANS

Report By Tokyo Radio “SEVERE FIGHTING GOING ON” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON. May 14. The Tokyo radio states that a strong United States force landed on Attu. the most westerly of the Aleutian Islands, on Wednesday. Severe fighting is now going on. A United States Navy spokesman in Washington had no comment to make on this report. The United Slates Navy Department reported small Japanese landings on the islands of Kiska and Attu on June 21 last year. Attu was heavily bombed in September, most of the buildings

there being destroyed, and on October 7 it was reported that the Japanese had apparently abandoned Attu and Agattu. The reoccupation of Attu was announced on November 29. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” reported on May 7 that in spite of the intensified American air offensive in the Aleutians the Japanese were continuing to build a landing field for fighter aeroplanes at Kiska and a bomber field at Attu. It was believed that there were 10.000 Japanese on these two bases. A United States Navy communique states that on May 11 forces of Army Mitchell bombers attacked Japanese installations at Kiska, in the Aleutians, dropping bombs on the runway and the rffain camp area. FIJIAN TROOPS IN PACIFIC DEPARTURE FROM SUVA (Rec. 6 p.m.) SUVA, May 13. It is officially announced that regular troops from Fiji are stationed in an advanced Pacific area. The day on which the troops embarked, April 13, will long live in the memories of the residents of Suva as a day of combined pride and sad-ness-pride that the cany’s forces had been granted the privilege of going overseas, and sadness at the inevitable parting with loved ones. Not since December 31, 1914, the day of the embarkation of the Ist Fiji Contingent for the Great War have such scenes been witnessed in the capital, Because of the Pacific war no advance publicity was possible, but it was generally known that the Ist Battalion of the Fiji infantry forces was going overseas. Last minute arrangements were made for a march through the town to enable the citizens to pay tribute to the troops. When the news circulated by word of mouth buildings were beflagged and the line of march was crowded well before the parade began. The temporary Administrator and the United States commanding general took the salute from the battalion, which was led by the commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. K. Taylor, a former Wellington representative footballer. All were impressed by the appearance of the men who were fit, alert, and ready for anything. At several halts relatives and friends crowded close for final farewells. There were similar scenes outside the wharf barriers before the men moved forward to scale the cargo nets to the transport’s deck. PREVENTION OF INFLATION ECONOMIC CONTROLS NECESSARY (Rec. 6 p.m.) CANBERRA, May 14. The intensification of economic controls is necessary if Australia is to be fully mobilised for war,” said the Commonwealth Prices Commissioner (ProfessomD. B. Copland) to-day. He added that the Commonwealth Bank Board’s commendation of the principle of ceiling price control was a complete answer to criticism that the plan was a method of concealing inflation. Professor Copland said that the fullest development of rationing restrictions on non-essential production, the limitation of luxury expenditure, and the rationalisation and concentration of industry were necessary to offset any tendency towards inflation and to maintain price ceiling now established. Although the general level of taxation in Australia was higher than in any other democratic country there was still a good deal of surplus spending power in the hands of a certain section of the people. PRESERVATIVE FOR WHEAT SECRET FROM ANCIENT TOMBS (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 13. Analysis of earth from the tombs of the ancient kings of Egypt gave scientists the secret of preservative which saved huge dumps of wheat for the Allied armies in the Middle East. The "Daily Mail” says that scientists years ago went to the tombs to find why the wheat buried with the ancient kings was still fresh and wholesome when the tombs were opened. The result was the discovery of ketelsousse, an ultrafine powder which, in dry climates, deters weevils. An Imperial Chemical Industries official revealed that the main ingredients of the powder are Egyptian rock phosphate and sulphur. One ton costs about £lO and treats about 100 tons of grain. SOUTH AFRICA’S WAR EFFORT LARGE PRODUCTION OF MUNITIONS (Rec. 10 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, May 13. From a European population of 2,250,000, South Africa has provided more than 300.000 full-time and parttime volunteers of whom 86,000 are on active service outside the Union, There are also 100.000 non-Europeans. General, Smuts gave those figures in a broadcast address. He added that war workers totalled many thousands. They had produced more than 300,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition. 750.000 shells, and 35,000 transport vehicles, and repaired more than <IOOO ships and 4000 armoured cars. South Africa has sent 2,500.000 spare parts for tanks and aeroplanes to the Middle East and also 10,000 tons of aerial boml».