NEW LANDING IN MARSHALLS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24187, 21 February 1944, Page 5

NEW LANDING IN MARSHALLS

Several Islands Occupied ENEMY AIR BASE CAPTURED (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 10.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Feb. If. A United Slates Pacific Fleet communique announces that American forces have captured the Japanese air base of Engebi and several other islands in the northern part of the Eniwetok atoll, in the Marshalls. Preliminary reports indicate that our casualties were light. Assaults on other parts of the atoll are proceeding according to schedule. An earlier communique stated that the initial landing took place after strong preliminary attacks by carrierbased aircraft and heavy ships of the Pacific Fleet. The troops went ashore under cover of battleship gunfire and the close support of low-flying naval aircraft. All the forces participating are under the immediate command of RearAdmiral R. K. Turner, and the amphibious forces commander. Rear-Admiral Hill. The assault troops, comprising the 22nd Marine and elements of the 106 th Army Infantry, are commanded by Brigadier-General Watson, of the Marine Corps. The United Press correspondent at Pearl Harbour reports that the Eniwetok landings were made on Thursday morning. Preliminary reports indicate that the barrage rolled from island to island of the atoll, while bombers, dive-bombers, torpedo-bombers, and fighters strafed the enemy. The attacking forces went in with clouds of Hellcats. Avengers, and Dauntlesses sweeping the beaches ahead of them. The Pearl Harbour correspondent of the Associated Press says that the capture of Engebi gives us a field for land-based aeroplanes farthest west of any yet taken. Resistance has, virtually ended on the northern part of tha island, although minor resistance from snipers can be expected during r.iop-ping-up ©Derations. The military correspondent of the “New York Times” (Hanson Baldwin) says that the Eniwetok landing is a logical extension of the Marshalls operations. Its conquest will mean the capture of the Japanese staging base for the flight delivery of aircraft to the Marshalls, and will isolate Wake Island, The establishment of an airbase at Eniwetok would enable the American forces to bomb Truk with land-based aeroplanes. Eniwetok Is 750 miles north-east of Truk. Ponape, 425 miles to the south-west, would be brought within easy range of land-based bombers. The Eniwetok atoll has one of the best fleet anchorages in the Pacific. The atoll is like a rough-edged bowl, with reefs, islands, and islets forming a deep green decoration about the rim. At the top of the rim is the Engebi islet. Parry and Eniwetok, islets are at the south-east. “Supplementing the major attacks on Truk and Eniwetok, American forces have continued to neutralise other enemy bases in the central Pacific area,” states another Pacific Fleet communique. “Army Liberators, Dauntless dive-bombers, and Warhawk fighters attacked four atolls in the eastern Marshalls last Wednesday. The Warhawks blew up a field dump at one base, damaged a small cargo vessel. and sank three small craft. “Fleet Air Wing search aeroplanes bombed installations on two other atolls. Army Liberators on Thursday bombed warehouses and docks at Ponape. and harbour installations at Kusaie. in the Carolines. “American warships repeatedly shelled important enemy positions in the eastern Marshalls between February 14 and 18.” ■ The Tokyo radio reports that a United States carrier task force attacked Taroa and Maloolap last Wednesday, while other forces are carrying out operations against Truk and Eniwetok,

JAPANESE CONVOY DESTROYED Bismarck Islands Action ALLIED BOMBER ATTACKS (Special Australian Corresp.. N.Z.PA.) (Rec. 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 20. Almost the entice Japanese convoy of 15 ships, which attempted to pierce the Allied blockade of the Bismarck Archipelago, has been wiped out. Twelve merchant vessels aggregating 36.500 tons, were sunk or otherwise destroyed by Allied aeroplanes in attacks made on Tuesday night and Wednesday. The Japanese airmen left the convoy to its fate. Although the entire action took place within 70 miles o£ the big enemy air base at Kawieng, New. Ireland, no lighter opposition was encountered by our bombers. United Stales sth Army Air Force aeroplanes from a number of bases maintained a non-stop shuttle service to accomplish the virtual annihilation of the convoy, which was attempting to reinforce the hard-pressed enemy garrisons in the Bismarck Archipelago. The destruction of the ships was accompanied by heavy Japanese loss of life. In most instances the entire ship’s personnel, together with the troops on board, were killed. The ships made desperate attempts to escape our bombers, which struck from mast height. General MacArthur’s communique on Friday announced the destruction of an 8000-ton tanker, a 6000-tnn transport, three 1500-lon cargo ships and a destroyer. Saturday’s communique reported the following additional sinkings; a TaOU-lnii tanker, five 2000-ton cargo ships, a 500-ton freighter and two escorting curveltes. The tanker mentioned in Saturday’s communique blazed like a torch before it disappeared. One of the corvettes blew up when it was hit amidships. Catalina flying-boats and Liberator bombers began the attack, but the mam battle honour? went I<> the lo\v-fiymg Mitchells, which inflicted the major destruction. The Japanese losses will further reduce their power to counter the almost daily Allied arr blasting of Rabaul and Kawieng.