MOUNTING RAIDS

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1944, Page 5

MOUNTING RAIDS

IN MID-PACIFIC Truk Bearing Brunt [Aus. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 10.50.) NEW YORK, May 2. The “New York Times’s” Pearl Harbour correspondent sa'ys: Neutralisation raids on enemy bases in the Central Pacific are steadily mounting to new peaks of frequency and weight, and Truk is bearing the brunt of the damage. It was disclosed to-day that Truk and probably other enemy bases Were being blasted with a far greater bomb tonnage than was officially indicated during April. Seventh Army Air Force ’planes alone struck Truk atoll twenty-three times during the month, dropping a total of two thousand tons of bombs. These were additional to attacks by the Navy’s Southwest Pacific land-based bombers. Truk, however, has by no means been neutralised. Enemy ’planes are still being reported over the island, but not a single successful interception has been reported. BrigadierGeneral Douglas, Acting-Commander of the Seventh Air Force, said that the Japanese air arm in the Central Pacific was steadily weakening. The remaining Japanese bases in the Marshall Islands were sealed off and effectively quarantined. The Japanese bases east of Truk, in the Carolines, were very nearly neutralised. A correspondent of the United Press in the Marshalls reports that the Japanese at Guam were so unprepared for the attack on the island on April 24, that they drove cars and trucks about the island even while Liberators were dumping bombs. Bombers were over the island for 75 minutes, but anti-aircraft defences did not fire a single shot, and there was no fighter opposition. WASHINGTON, May 1.

American planes on Saturday struck at enemy bases in the Kuriles, Truk, Pona'pe and Marshalls, says a Pacific Fleet communique. Ventura 'search planes bombed Paramushiro before dawn. Single planes bombed and damaged a ship anchored in the Truk lagoon and strafed airstrips at Moen end Eton Islands. Mitchells bombed Ponape Island, hitting runways and adjacent installations. Other bombers and fighters dropped 35 tons of bombs on remaining enemy objectives in the Marshalls. JAPANESE ESTIMATE LONDON, May 1. The Tokio correspondent of the German News Agency stated that the Americans, with the new landings, aim at more than just clearing the Japanese from New Guinea. Th'* landings are to prepare the ground for a north-western. drive to the Carolines, where the Allies hope to join hands with Nimitz’s Central Pacific forces at Pelew Island. If the Americans can establish air bases in Dutch New Guinea the position of the whole Carolines and the Philippines will be very materially affected.