ALEUTIANS ACTION

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23949, 17 May 1943, Page 5

ALEUTIANS ACTION

U.S. Bridgehead On Attu

VIOLENT BATTLE CONTINUES (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 16. United States troops have secured a bridgehead on the Japan-ese-held island of Attu, in the . western Aleutians, where strong forces landed early on Tuesday. Violent fighting continues, while the United States Navy adheres to its stated intention to announce no details until the situation is clarified. The Berlin radio says the American invasion forces landed under the cover of dense fog after warships and bombers had pounded the island. The Americans, claims the radio, are rushing reinforcements and supplies to AUu, while their naval task forces have blockaded the island to prevent assistance reaching the Japanese. “The drive to force the Japanese out of Attu, in the Aleutians, is going very satisfactorily,” said the Secretary of the Navy (Colonel Frank Knox) at a press conference. He explained that the operation was a joint Army and Navy affair. Marines were not taking part. He declined to predict the length of the campaign, but he emphasised that the move was of great strategic importance. , Landing Difficulties The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” suggests that a landing on Japan’s main Aleutians base of Kiska may be' attempted soon, and says that strong blows against Japan in the south-west and other Pacific areas can be expected, according to a co-ordinated strategic plan. However, heavy casualties are anticipated before the Japanese are driven from Attu. Invasion boats, thrusting

against the island would have to traverse treacherous reefs with strong currents. To gain a beachhead soldiers would have to cross swamps. Although fewer than 10,000 Japanese troops are reported to be based on Attu, they are entrenched behind strongly fortified, positions, aided by rock formations. Attu would give the Americans a weather station which would be extremely important in the Aleutians. It is assumed in Washington that the United States commanders have thrown in sufficient forces to overcome the Japanese. Axis reports say that the Japanese are greatly outnumbered, but that furious hand-to-hand battles are in progress on the island’s bleak mountain sides. Naval experts say an attack against the Japanese Kurile Islands, north of Japan proper, is almost certain to follow the successful occupation of Attu. The important Japanese naval base of Paramushiro, at the northern tip of the Kurile Islands, is 600 miles west of Attu and within easy bomber range. However, Colonel Knox has warned that the occupation of Attu will be “tougher than Guadalcanal” Powerful Force The Washington correspondent of the Associated Press states that ther,e are indications that the United States has been building up a powerful striking force in the Aleutians, while the strength of American attacks against Japanese bases in this area has been mounting steadily. A determined American campaign is believed now to be under way to drive the Japanese right out of the Aleutians. This would be preparatory, to a possible thrust across island stepping stones against Japan itself. The occupation of Amchitka Island, 265 miles east of Attu, was announced last week. Attu is a Japanese supply and reinforcement base for Kiska Island, 196 miles to the east. It is the dnemy’s only petrol supply base on the 2000-mile Tokyo-Kiska air route, The Japanese have been constructing a large base on Attu, apparently for launching attacks against the American mainland. The defences include strong anti-aircraft batteries and big coastal defence guns built into the cliffs. Authoritative feeling in the United States has always been that along all sections of the Pacific front the Aleutians and the south-west Pacific area afford the best opportunities for heavy blows against the Japanese.

WAR AGAINST U-BOATS

ENEMY’S LOSING BATTLE LONDON, May 14. It is authoritatively stated that the most encouraging feature of the naval situation during the last six weeks has been the imnrovement in the results of attacks against U-boats. Atlantic sinkings in April were much below those of March, and the improvement has continued during May. "I think that the U-boat is fighting a losing battle,” said Admiral H. R. Stark, the United States naval commander in European waters. "This is not said on the results of one, two, or three months. I am considering the general trend. It will be better in the coming months, although there will probably be some dips in the sinkings curve. I have always been optimistic that the time would come when we will lick the submarine." ♦ One factor in the successes of recent months has been an improvement in the air strength of both the Fleet Air Arm and the H.A.FI, it is stated in London. The naval escort forces are also improving steadily.

TWO GERMAN SHIPS TORPEDOED

COASTAL FORCES IN ACTION (8.0. W.) RUGBY. May 14. “Last night, after a period of enforced inactivity due to bad weather, light coastal forces, under Lieutenant Peter Dickens, fought a highly successful action off the coast of Holland,” states an Admiralty communique. "While on patrol His Majesty’s ships intercepted and engaged a strong enemy force which included torpedo boats and armed trawlers. Despite a rapid fire from the enemy, our ships pressed home the attack to close range and torpedoed two enemy torpedoboats of about 600 tons each. The bows were blown off one enemy ship, which was also hit on the stern and sank. The other was torpedoed amidships and broke in halves. “His Majesty’s ships sustained neither casualties nor damage and all returned to harbour.’’ A Marvellous Record For 80 years the most popular remedy in New Zealand for coughs, colds, sore throats, bronchitis and many chest ailments has been Baxters Lung Preserver. This marvellously pleasant remedy is to-day more popular than ever, Prepared by Baxters Ltd., Colombo st., Christchurch. —2