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Grey River Argus, 21 June 1944, Page 5

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nearmmMM 300 Jap IN RAID ON NAVAL LAus. & N.Z. Press WASHINGTON, June Over 300 Japanese ’planes were stroyed during the Japanese attacW against the American amphibiowW operations off. Saipan Island, says a" Navy communique. The Americans have captured Aslito aerodrome, crossing the island to Magicienne Bay. (Rec. 8.5.) WASHINGTON, June 20. A Pacific Fleet communique says: Our assault troops on Saipan Island have captured Aslito aerodrome, and have ariven eastward across the island to Magicienne Bay, where we hold the western shorq, Two pockets of enemy resistance remain eastward of Lake Susupe. The enemy continues counter-attacking, but all the attacks have been successfully repulsed. Seabees are now working on airstrips at Aslito. Our carrier task force is providing cover and support for the amphibiojjs force. The task force was subjected, yesterday, to. a severe aerial attack which continued Lor several hours. The attack] was successfully repulsed by our carrier aircraft and ack-ack. Information at present available, indicated that only one of our surface units received minor damage. Portions of the enemy Iplanes are believed to be carrier-based, using nearby shore bases as shuttle' points. However, the effectiveness of this procedure is sharply limited by our systematic bombing and strafing of airfields at Guam and Rota. It is estimated that more than three hundred enemy aircraft were destroyed by our forces, during this engagement. _ ~ The Associated Press Pearl Harbour correspondent says that it was the greatest Pacific air battle since Midway, where 275 Japanese ’planes were lost. It also was the first engagement with Japanese carrier-bas-ed 'planes since the battle of Santa Cruz in October, 1942.

The fact that the ’planes are using Rota and Guam as shuttle points indicates that the Japanese carriers are reluctant to come within range of the American carrier ’planes, and operated a considerable distance from the Marianas. The New York “Times’s” Pearl Harbour correspondent says that there is no information as to the strength of the Japanese carrier force, nor whether American ’planes located it. Observers believe that the ground strategy entails the cleaning up of the southern end of the island quickly, then turning northward against tne remaining defences. New Guinea Operations ADVANCE ON BIAK CONTINUED. SYDNEY, June .20. Allied aircraft are now operating from the strip constructed on Owi Island, just off the south coast of Biak Island. Owi was captured by the American invasion forces 18 days ago. On Biak, the Americans continue the advance towards Borokoe a ' r “ field. An additional 160 Japanese have been killed, bringing the total of known enemy dead to 1,820. Thirty?six former members of the Netherlands East Indies Army have been rescued from the* enemy. ■ Liberators, attacking Truk, in the Carolines, shot down 12 to 25 intercepting fighters. Two. . Liberators were lost. PROGRESS ON BIAK MORE GAINS MADE. (Rec. 10.20) SYDNEY, June 20. Supported by Sherman tanks. American infantry on Biak Island, Dutch New Guinea, made an important gain on Saturday. In face of stubborn Japanese resistance . they captured a ridge which dominates the difficult terrain. West of this newly-won position lies the enemyheld Borokoe airfield, towards which the Americans are driving. The country between the ridge and the airfield is less formidable than that alreadv overcome, and affords the Japanese fewer opportunities for strong defensive stands. .The enemy lost 165 killed in Saturday’s’' action, bringing the total of their known dead in the Biak campaign to 1820. To-day’s South-west Pacific -communique also reports that 36 Javanese, formerly members of the Netherlands East Indies Army, had been freed from the Japanese. In the 18 days since the capture of Owi Island, just off the south coast cf Biak, an American engineering unit has constructed an airstrip which is already in .use. Supporting the American invasion of the Marianas, General MacArthur’s bombers have again pounded Japanese installations on Truk, especially c.n the Islands of Dublon, Eten and Param. Twenty-five fighters intercepted the attacking Liberators. Twelve of the enemy machines were shot down. Two of the Liberators were lost. Another Allied, plane was lost over Rabaul, where Liberators, Dauntless, Avengers and Mitchells kent up the relentless smashing ot the' enemy base by dropping -Uo tons of bombs on Rapopo, Vunakanau and Tobera airfields.

NEW SOUTH PACIFIC COMMANDER.

WASHINGTON, June 18. - Admiral Ha|sey. it is reported wifi be succeeded <as South Pacific Commander by Vice-Admiral J°bn £■ Newton, who. won the American tinguished Service Cross m Euiopean waters in the last war and is ican ed as being on e of the An Navy’s most capable s ’ J! well as a clever and er He is an acknowledged Arne id LtihorlW on the employment °fW;naval forces and a leading - P of cruiser tactics . his Vice-Admiral Newton 1S 1 in sixty-third year. He was iggl Pennsylvania on December 13. 18b and entered the United States Academy at Annapohs in .5- 1907 was n J served in both and since then c gsveral campaigns the wars and the - , n employed. In which Ms Navy M commaiuier ot C Xp®&le iten since It was the soutn r n-ho was Sn° 4 M Q aS“?a*ter had smremi, command ot the forces which Guad f 1M2 U Vicethe same vear. In Octobei. 1942. V Admtoal Ghormley was succeeded by Admiral Halsey.