WAR IN PACIFIC

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1944, Page 5

WAR IN PACIFIC

U.S. Prediction

WASHINGTON, May 11

Mr. H. Stimson, War ” Secretary, stated to pressmen that American Army Air Forces in the Pacific and Asia, in destroying 4887 enemy planes lost 1414 planes from December 7, 1941 to March 7 last. The enemy was sending some new air strength into the newly-developed bases at the >west- { ern end of New Guinea and the near-* by Schouten Islands, but Allied planes, were turning their attention to these regions. Ainerican planes, he said, had dropped 7730 tons of bombs since February 3 on Rabaul, where the enemy air installations had been rendered useless. Americans killed 3170 and took prisoner 158 Japanese in the Admiralty Islands, and killed 1502 and took prisoner 290 at Hollandia and Aitape. It was noteworthy that increasing numbers of Japanese were surrendering. . Admiral Sir William James, Chief of Naval Information said: “We are eating away against Japanese strongholds now, and doing a fine job, but that is not the wav the Pacific war will be won. After Germany is defeated we shall move our fleet to the east. With the combined vast resources of the British and American Navies I cannot see how the Pacific war won’t be won sooner than manypeople think. It will be a great maritime war and there will be battle fleet action similar to that in the last war. It will also be a great aircraft carrier war.” Mr. Harold Moulton, head of the Brookings Institute which conducts fact-finding inquiries said. “Only half of the United States Armys ground forces will be needed to defeat Japan after Germany’s collapse, for the United States armed forces total eleven million.” He believed Germany’s collapse would come at the end of this year and that the war in the Orient will be over in 1945. JAPANESE PREDICTIONS. NEWYORK, May 11. Lack .of important moves in the Pacific in the past few months is probably a lull preceding major events, says the Tokio official radio. The Americans were preparing for an offensive from the Aleutians, where they have several hundred planes, and five or six infantry divisions, including paratroops and air-borne troops. The radio adds that Japanese troops in the Northern Kuriles are ready ior these offensives. The Aleutians will one of these days become a major war theatre. U.S.A. AIR ‘RAIDS. LONDON, May 11. Eleventh Army Liberators on the night of May 8, bombed Truk, dropping 40 tons of bombs on . air strifts and defence installations, says a -Pae - fic Fleet communique. A poss’ble hit on a ship .near Moen Island was scor ed with a 2000-pound bomb. Liberators bombed Oroluk atoll and Ponape town. Liberators on Tues day attacked Wake I sla " d h an L^? s ells bombed Ponape. Other bombers and fighters bombed and .strafed _th remaining enemy position in the Me shalls. '