SERIOUS VIEW

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 124, 21 February 1944, Page 5

SERIOUS VIEW

Japan Uneasy Over Truk Attack LANDING STORY DROPPED (Received February 20, 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 19. The attack against Truk clearly is not an invasion, but a raid. The latest Tokio radio broadcasts make no mention of an American landing. One domestic broadcast said: “Regardless of whether the enemy intends to land or not the war situation has developed with unprecedented seriousness.” Major Fielding Eliot, writing in the New York “Herald Tribune,” points out that Truk obviously is not a place which can be taken by a single overwhelming attack as Tarawa and Kwajalein. Any attempt to capture Truk would be preceded by an operation designed to cut off its communications with Japan, and also would require a considerably greater force and more extensive preparations. “It rather seems that Admiral Nimitz

is flinging Pearl Harbour back into the Japanese teeth, and his real objective was the Japanese Fleet. He may well have caught a good part of their fleet anchored inside the lagoon, and have done. heavy, perhaps irreparable damage.” Meanwhile the Americans are extending their grip on the Marshalls. The United Press corrs>spodnent at Pearl Harbour reports that the Eniwetok landings were made on Thursday morning. Preliminary reports indicate that the baftage rolled from island to island of the atoll while bombers, torpedobombers, and fighters strafed the enemy. The attacking forces went in with clouds of Hellcats. Avengers, arid Dauntlesses sweeping the beaches ahead of them. The “New York Times” correspondent,' Hanson Baldwin, says the Eniwetok landing is a logical extension of the Marshalls operations. Its conquest will mean the capture of a Japanese staging base for flight delivery of aircraft to the ' r arshnlls. and will isolate Wake Island. The establishment of an air-base at Eniwetok would enable the American forces to bomb Truk with land-based planes. Eniwetok is 750 miles north-east of Truk. Ponape,. 425 miles to the southwest. would be brought within easy range of land-based bombers. Fine Fleet Anchorage. Eniwetok Atoll has'one of the best fleet anchorages in the Pacific. The atoll is like a rough-edged oowl, with reefs, islands, and islets forming a deep green decoration about the rim. At the top of the rim is Engebi Island. The Parry and Eniwetok islands are at the southeast. The “New York Times” correspondent in the South Pacific, Frank Kluckhorn, says there seems some agitation in certain quarters to by-pass the Philippines, leaving them on one flank and Japan on the other, while trying to reach the China coast. But it is one thing to fight a naval action in such circumstances, and

another to support a supply line for ground troops. Perhaps that is •why General MacArthur advocated continued

co-operation between the land, sea. and air forces. Obviously, he believes the quickest, cheapest, and easiest way to the China coast is via the Philippines.. General Chennault told the Press in Chungking that the 14th Air Force was laying the groundwork for collaboration with Admiral Nimitz in cracking Japan’s Pacific defences and’ carrying on the war from China General Chennault added : “For some time I have been endeavouring to push the construction of airfields and operational facilities m China, enabling us to accommodate many more transports bringing greater supplies to be used for driving the Japanese from China and attacking japan. These bases could, of course, also be used when Admiral Nimitz comes in with land and air forces. The Associated Press points out that more and more confident predictions are heard in China that the Chinese coun-ter-offensive may be attempted, and Hankow might be retaken by the autumn. PROPAGANDA REPORT Japanese Account Of Landing On Truk NEW YORK, February IS. Following the Japanese Imperial Headquarters announcement of fighting by American motorized forces at Truk, the Domei news agency of Japan put out a report which Chungking radio quoted. . It said: “Powerful mechanized units as well as'airpower are being used in the American attack against Truk. Fighting with our troops is now going on. “This present attack is not the real thing and doesn’t go beyond the scope of a strong reconnaissance. The main force of our invincible navy is biding its time till the very end, and, co-ordinating it with supply difficulties that will increase in proportion to the distance of the enemy’s advance, it is now looking for a golden opportunity to destroy the enemy at one stroke.” t The enemy reports of the landing are not confirmed in Washington Army and navy officials refused to comment on the enemy report that Americans had landed. President RooSevelt told a Press conference that he knew nothing about the reports thVit Americans had landed. Scoring Major Victory. “The Americans are scoring a major victory at Truk,” said Colonel Knox, Secretary of the United States Navy, at a Press conference. “I think this attack was a victory whose full proportions will not be known till the need for radio silence is /over.” He said he did not know whether the operation was concluded. Asked about the Japanese reports of landings, Colonel Knox said this was an air action by carrier-based planes. The Japanese were broadcasting false reports of a landing attempt for purely propaganda purposes. ■ An Associated Press correspondent at Chungking savs the Chinese hailed the assault on Truk jubilantly, with a feeling akin to incredulity, since no one expected the blow to come so soon. If is taken as an indication that Admiral Nimitz’s planned drivi across the Pacific to the China coast is well under way. It is generally supposed that the event will profoundly affect the morale of the Japanese people, and that Japan might now be compelled to withdraqv some of her forces from China, the only territory where she can conveniently deplete her strength.