HALSEY’S TASK COMPLETED?

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 162, 6 April 1944, Page 5

HALSEY’S TASK COMPLETED?

South Pacific Blockade NEW APPOINTMENT EXPECTED

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received April 5, 11 p.m.)

NEW YORK, April 5.

Admiral Halsey, United States commander in the 'South Pacific, is expected to leave -the area shortly to take up an- important new appointment. Naval authorities forecast the probnible reorganization of the whole Pacific command set-up. A United Press dispatch from South Pacific headquarters says: “Admiral Halsey has Ibeeome the first United States commander, to complete his assignment, in the Pacific. The occupation. of Eniirau and the -St. Matthias Group by marines on (March 10 effectively completed the blockade and isolation of 100,000 Japanese in the Southern Pacinc." . Spencer Davies, Associated Press correspondent in the South Pacific, says. “Informed officers now predict that Admiral Halsey’s command will soon cease to exist as a combat theatre lor _ lack of suitable objectives. It is believed that the South Pacific forces may be gradually assimilated in the Central amt South-west Pacific theatres as the war moves toward China. It is thought that the Japanese have so tightened their line of defence that it now runs down from the Bonini Islands through the Mariannes to Palau and thence to Hollandia, New Guinea, with a single salient jutting out at Truk. The officers are also certain that sufficient number ol Allied planes, ships and troops will be deployed to keep Rabaul, Kavieng and Bougainville thoroughly neutralized.” U.S." fleet”success Japanese Ships Pasted In Carolines AV ASHINGTON, April 4. The American task force which raided the Carolines sank or damaged all the Japanese ships caught at anchor at Palau, Woleai, and Yap Islands. Colonel Frank Knox. Secretary of the Navy, revealed. In addition one Japanese warship was sunk near Palau and two near Woleai.

The American plane losses were eight fighters, seven bombers, and eight torpedobombers. Reports indicate that there has been no damage to the American warships. . . . . Colonel Knox said it was impossible to estimate the number of Japanese ships caught at the anchorages and added that only meagre details had been received because of the radio silence. Additional information was expected shortly. He said that an interesting sidelight on the raid ou Palau was that there had been an air raid alarm in Manila. We don’t know whether one of our planes went over Manila and threatened them, or if they were aware of this attach close by,”’ Colonel Knox said. Ilis refereuce-to Yap and Woleai was the first announcement that these islands were attacked in the three-day strike ou March 30-31 and April 1. Woleai has an unusually good anchorage. Truk Atoll Bombed Again.

Daily attacks on enemy bases in the Carolines and Marshalls continue. A Pacific Fleet communique reports: Li->-erators bombed Dublin and Eten islands, in the Truk atoll, ou Sunday night. Airfields at Ponape, in the Carolines, were bombed and strafed, three enemy positions in the Marshalls were bombed and runways attacked and n small ship and a ‘duck’ were set on fire. All the planes returned.” Colonel Knox also announced that American Navy and Marine Corps avaitors and anti-aircraft crews had shot down 5310 Japanese planes since Pearl Harbour, exclusive of planes destroyed on the ground or on carriers, which it was impossible to estimate. He added that .>4l American planes had been shot down since the outbreak of war.

UNESCORTED BOMBERS Running Fight Over Truk (Received April 5, 11.55 p.m.) _ SYDNEY, April o.

Of 60 Japanese fighters which engaged Solomons-bascd Liberator bombers in 45 minutes’ running fight over Truk, in the Carolines, on Monday, seven were shot down, with two others probably destroyed. Five Liberators are missing. Tile bombers dropped 46 tons of bombs on the water house’ and waterfront area at Dublon. Large fires were started. Because of the long-range nature of the flight, the Solomons-based bombers attacking Truk are without the protection of escorting fighters. The Allied loss reported today is the highest yet revealed in attacks on Truk.

OFF JAPANESE COAST U.S. Submarines Sink 14 More Ships

■WASHINGTON, April 4. United States submarines have sunk another 14 Japanese ships. A Navy Department announcement says that the vessels were two medium tankers, 11 medium cargo vessels, and one small cargo vessel. The Associated Press says that these latest sinkings were by submarines operating off tlie Japanese coast. The total of Japanese ships sunk by submarines since Pearl Harbour is now i)l7.