ATTU LANDING

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1943, Page 5

ATTU LANDING

STRONG U.S. FORCE

Violent Fighting

FURTHER MOVES LIKELY TO

FOLLOW.

(Aust. & N.Z- Cable Assn.) WAHINGTON, May 14.

The United States Navy Department has announced that American forces landed on the island of Attu, the most westeily of the Aleutians, on Tuesday, and engaged the Japanese forces there. Details, it was stated, will be released when the situation clarifies. ’ . According to the Berlin and lokio radios the Americans landed strong forces’ and violent fighting is in progress. A United States Navy spokesman in Washington had no comment to make on the Axis reports. 1 The campaign on Attu Island is going well, according to reports received in London. • The United States 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 ot the “New York Times” reported on May 7 that in spite of the intensified American offensive in the Aleutians the J'apanese 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. The landing is claimed as the first concrete evidence of the speeding up in the war against Japan. An indication of the Allied leaders’ interest in the Pacific theatre is the fact that Thursday’s projected jneeting of the Pacific War Council was postponed until next week; because it was inconvenient for Mr Churchill to attend, and he had expressed himself as particularly anxious to take part in the Pacific discussions. The U.S. Navy Secretary, Colonel Knox, said: “The drive to force the Japanese out of Attu, in the Aleutians, is going very satisfactorily.” 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. The Washington correspondent of (the Associated Press of America states that there 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 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 enemy’s only petrol supply base on the 2,000-mile TokioKiska air route. The J'apanese 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. _ , TT 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 tlhe best opportunities for heavy blows against the Japanese.

BRIDGEHEAD SECURED. <Rec. 8.45) WASHINGTON, May 16. United States troops have secured a bridgehead on Attu Island. Violent fighting continues, while the Navy adheres to its stated intention to announce no details until the situation clarified. The “New York Times’s” correspondent suggests that a landing on Japan’s main Aleutians base, 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-or-dinated strategic plan. However, heavy casualties are anticipated oefore the Japanese are driven from Attu. Invasion boats thrusting against the island would have to traverse treacherous reefs, with strong currents. To gain the beachhead, soldiers would have to cross swamps. Although fewer than ten thousand Japanese troops are reported to be based at Attu 'they are entrenched behind strongly fortified positions, aided by rock formations. Attu would give the Americans a weather station which is extremely important in. the Aleutians. It is assumed in Washington that United States' commanders have thrown m sufficient forces to overcome the Japanese. Axis reports say 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 that 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, Paramushiro, at the northern tip of Kurile is six hundred miles west of Attu, and within easy bomber range. However Colonel Knox warned that the occupation of Attu will be “tougher than Guadalcanal’." The Berlin radio says the American invasion forces landed under cover of dense fog, after warships and bombers had pounded the island. f'he Americans, claims the radio, are rushing reinforcements and supplies to Attu while their naval task forces have blockaded the island to prevent assistance reaching the Japanese.

KISKA ATTACKED. WASHINGTON, May 14. “In the North Pacific on Thursday morning, Liberators attacked the Japanese main camp near Kiska. The results were not observed owing to poor visibility. On the same day, a formation of Warhawks bombed the Japanese installations at Kiska.”