NO NAVAL CLASH?

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1944, Page 5

NO NAVAL CLASH?

JAPS AVOID ACTION Tremendous U.S. Assault AGAINST ENEMY ON SAIPAN I Aus. & N.Z- Press Assn.l (Rec 112 a.m.) NEW YORK, June 22 The American Associated Fress; correspondent in a despatch to-day from the flagship of the Force at Saipan says: The Japanese Fleet, after a week of . complex man oeuvring, is stdl avoiding a battle against the powerful United States Fleet guarding the Saipan invasion. „ The Aslito aerodrome was ready for operation to-day, after had repaired and extended the 3,600 feet runway. Shielded by the great American battle fleet standing off the Marianas, Marines and army troops launched a major attach,, this morning, to wipe out the Japanese. The situation forced on the Japanese elusive Grand Fleet is the grimmest challenge yet presented—come in and fight, but the enemy still avoided a battle. , , On Saipan, the American attack began shortly after dawn, with veteran forces pushing on ahead on a four mile front, extending across the island from the outskirts of Garapan, along the slopes of Mount Tapotchau, to Magicienne Bay At one point, the Marines advanced a mile in the first three hours. From the flagship, a few miles off shore, I saw the artillery preparation for to-day’s attack. During the early part of the night, land guns pounded Japanese positions, while naval guns pumped in hundreds of shells. Ships, all night fired starshells at intervals of a few minutes. One hour before the dawn, American artillery began a barrage so heavy that it even jolted and shook this shin. Watchers from the deck could see almost a continuous flash as the guns sent shells screaming northward. Reports from the shore indicated heavy Japanese losses.

AMERICAN ANNOUNCEMENTS.

NEW YORK, June 21

The United States Fleet closed on the Japanese Navy between the Marianas and Luzon, at dusk, on Monday. This was announced at 'Pearl Harbour by Admiral Nimitz, who added that the enemy losses and our own losses have not yet been assessed. The Navy announced that American carrier-based planes sighted and attacked the Japanese fleet of battleships, aircraft-carriers, and other warships on Monday, in the opening phase of what may become history’s greatest naval engagement. WASHINGTON, June 21.,

Mr. Forrestal, at the press conference said there was some indication that the United States forces had caught up with the enemy armada. He pointed out that American forces were under strict radio silence. Admiral King said: The sooner the Japanese Fleet fights the better we will be satisfied. He expressed appreciation of the long expected cooperation of the Japanese Navy in moving into battle position, and expressed confidence as to the outcome. He added that losses must be expected, and are allowed for, but thusfar they have been less than estimated. This referred to all types of action on air, sea, and land.

AMERICAN DOUBT.

SPARRING ACTION SUGGESTED.

(Rec. 8.10) NEW YORK, June 21. No details have been available since Admiral Nimitz’s announcement that American carrier-based planes attacked the Japanese Fleet, but the action probably did not last long, says the ‘‘New York Time’s” Pearl Harbour correspondent. Presumably the attacking fliers broke off the engagement at dusk and returned to their bases. There is a strong possibility of more fencing and feeling out lof a kind which would normally precede fleets coming together for a slugging match of a decisive nature. However, such a match seems more remote th-a’n it did. It is likely that the American Fleet will content itself with sparring, until our position at 'Saipan is more secure. This may not be long, because we are rushing the completion of Aslito aerodrome to relieve the Fifth Fleet of policing duties. ~ The “New York Times” in an editorial, says that Japan could still put into battle ten to twelve battleships and battle-cruisers, seven or large carriers, thirty to forty cruisers, seventy to ninety destroyers, but the American Fleet was in every respect superior inasmuch as over six superdreadnoughts and over fifty carriers had been added to the pre-war strength. The American progress towards Japan, which is eliminating protective outnosts, may at last have forced the reluctant Japanese Admirals to stand up and fight a battle which could decisively affect the whole strategy of the Pacific. Severe U.S. Losses STATES TOKIO RADIO. NEW YORK, June 21. While Mr. Forrestal and Admiral King told the press conference at Washington there was no definite information about a naval battle in tne Marianas, the Tokio official radio stated that a fierce naval battle was raging off the Marianas. The radio claimed that an American 45,000 tons battleship of the lowa class was sunk off the Marianas last Friday and added that a 35,000 ton battleship of the North Carolina class went down to a ■watery grave on Thursday night. Two of the four aircraft-carriers heavily damaged and set on fire on Saturday night, were of the 24,000 ton Essex class, while another was a 10,000 ton Independence type of converted cruiser. The fourth appeared to be of tne Essex type.

Australian View

WAR GREATLY SHORTENED.

(Special to N.Z. Press Assn . (Rec 10.30 ) SYDNEY, June 22. A erand scale American Naval victory in toe battle of the Marianas would greatly shorten the; war against Japan and. a decisive defeat of tne Japanese home fleet would render the enemy’s naval position as desperate as in their aerial position. In such an event the Japanese war lords would have‘to remold their strategy in terms of a land army alone —and no defence plan resting on such a basis could for long stave off the inevitable end. This is the opinion of Australian war commentators whose eyes have suddenly turned from toe fighting for Cherbourg to the resound ng naval drama which is now being enacted in the waters midway between the Marianas and Luzon, the first of the Philippine Islands to be invaded by the Japanese. The battle area lies about twelve hundred miles south of Tokio. Luzon and the Marianas are some fifteen-‘hundred miles apart. Doubt if toe Japanese will dare to move their fleet out of the range of protecting fighter aircraft based on

the Philippines, is expressed by Lieu- r ' tenant General Gordon Bennett, writ-; ing in' the Sydney “Sun,” to-day. He ; believes that the enemy ships will I' wait for the American forces to come > under their air umbrella and that faced with the prospects of a severe mauling, they will decline a fight to tne finish, instead they will withdraw to the temporary safety of the Philippines. “If they do fight and lose, then the Japanese war will be all over except for the cleaning up,” says General Bennett. “But even if the Japanese are successful in s.nking some of j the American ships, and keeping tne Allied forces out of reach of the Philippines for the present, they wii. jjy no means have won the war, nor will we have lost it. We can afford a setback since we have the means of replacing our losses and enlarging our ‘fleet for the next round. Japan has not.” It is believed here that the Japanese, no matter what sacrifice they are willing to make, cannot, now prevent •the completion of American subjugation of the Marianas, which is certain to be followed by preparations for a invasion of the Philippines, as well as a softening up of Japan’s home front by long-range bomb.ng attacks. “Japan is confronted by one of the most gigantic pincer movement in military history.” writes the Sydney “Herald’s” military correspondent. “Activities in both the Central ana the South-west Pacific Commands have been perfectly co-ordinated in applying correlated pressure. Their aim is clearly to converge on and retake the Philippines. Biak is the southern counterpart of Saipan, and botn are essential jumping off points for the development of this strategy." Progress already made poses a grave dilemma for the Japanese who have been forced to ask whether they could safely procrastinate further, in using their full naval strength to meet these fast growing Allied penetrations towards the Philippines. Indeed, the “Herald” writer believes that the enemy may have delayed overlong in detiding to offer battle. It is not, however yet clear whether the Japanese Fleet now engaged, came out with the deliberate purpose of meeting the full strength of Admiral Spruance’s American Fifth Fleet, or whether they have been trapped into the present action.

“This battle,” says the Sydney “Sun’ editorially, “will decide, not Japan’s ultimate fate, for that is certain; but the period before that fate overtakes her”

Advancing North

AMERICANS ON SAIPAN.

WASHINGTON, June 21

A Pacific Fleet communique reports that in the ground fighting at Saipan American assault troops advanced in a northerly direction along the western shore of Magicienne Bay, and progressed against the enemy strongpoint at Nafutan Point. Severe fighting continues.

New Jap Landing

THREAT TO U.S. SAIPAN FORCES.

(Rec. 11.5.) NEW YORK, June 22.

Tokio official radio claims that Japanese forces supported by newly-land-ed tanks, thrust into the rear of American positions on Saipan Island.

SAIPAN A HUGE ARSENAL.

NEW YORK, June 21

Saipan proved to be Japan’s main arsenal in the Marianas, says the. comb’ned American Press correspondent, Percy Finch, aboard the flag-ship off Sainan. “I watched naval guns blasting shore targets, rip open toe deeply hidden oil and ammunition dumps, honeycombing the mountain slopes, indicating many years’ accumulation of war stores. Caves on the southern coast were found stuffed with fuel and ammunition. Five oil dumps blazed together in the three miles area. The biggest dump was at the foot of Mount Tapotchau, which the Japanese converted into a mountain fortress with entrenched mortars and artillery.” New Guinea Operations MOPPING-UP ON BIAK. SYDNEY, June 22. American forces on Biak Island are mopping up the Japanese remnants around the captured airfields. Further patrol actions in the . Hollandia —Aitape sector have resulted in the killing of 267 more enemy troops. Japanese casualties in the area . since the landings .on Hollandia and Aitape on April 22 now total 5086, including 653 prisoners. At Manokwari, Allied' planes sank two coastal vessels and eight barges. 5086 JAP CASUALTIES NEUTRALISING RAIDS CONTINUE. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 10.55) SYDNEY, June 22. While the invasion of the Marianas and a great Pacific naval battle are in progress General MacArthur’s long-range bombers are maintaining their neutralising raids on Japanese bases in the Central Pacific. A further'attack on Truk in the Carolines when Liberators dropped 108 tons of bombs, is reported by to-day’s Southwest Pacific communique. Enemy troop losses since the American forces landed at Hollandia and Aitape, New Guinea, on April 22, have passed the 5000 mark. The killing of 267 Japanese and the capture of 24 in recent scattered patrol action brings known enemy casualties in the area to 5086, including 653 prisoners. Americans who completed the strategic campaign on Biak Island on Tuesday, by capturing the island’s I'dst two enemy-held airfields, are now mopping-up pockets of resistance. Only comparatively small numbers of Japanese are believed to remain on the island, where the Americans landed on May 27. Much of the garrison’s stores and equipment has already been captured. Airfields on Biak will provide valuable springboards for the coming offensive .against the Philippines, the southern bases of which are within 900 miles. West of Biak, Noemfoor Island and Manokwari again have been the targets for Allied aerial blows, the destruction including two luggers and ten barges. WIDESPREAD AIR ATTACKS (Rec. 810) WASHINGTON, June 21. A Pacific Fleet communique states: Navy Venturas bombed Shumushu before dawn on Saturday last, starting fires near the airfield. Navy Venturas and Army Liberators bombed Paramushiro before dawn on Monday. Army Liberators made a daylight attack on Monday on Truk atoll. Liberators ana Mitchells bombed Ponape. Other aircraft struck at Milli, Maloelap and Wotje.

FUNERAL SERVICE.

FOR FLIERS SHOT DOWN OVER

JAPAN.

(Rec. 810) NEW YORK, June 21. Burial services were held on Monday for the crew of Superfortresses

shot down over Yawata, says the Tokio Official Radio.. Notwithstanding the fact that American fliers in th epast, have perpetuated many cowardly and inhuman acts against Japan, the funeral attendants bowed in deep reverence of these unfortunate airmen who had died in action.

'“PRESSURISED CABINS.”

FEATURE OF SUPERFORTRESSES.

(Rec. 8.40) WASHINGTON, June 21. ■ The War Department states Superfortresses are equipped with “pressurised cabins’’ enabling crews to oper- . ate without oxygen masks at altitudes of forty thousand feet and higher. However, oxygen is carried as a precaution against the destruction of the pressure system, which - compresses air in the cabin through the use of supercharges. _ Superfortresses, by virture of specially Resigned,' wings, are able to take oft and land within a remarkably short distance. Not Immune NEW YORK, June 21. Whether we like it or not, we must face the fact that the United States is not immune from war, said ivir. Forrestal, in a speech at Princeto University. . He added: We must recognise that aggression against China, Pciana, France, or any other country auto- , matically becomes an . act of aggression against ■ ourselves. _ Thereiore. we must not allow idealism to persuade us to disarm, while the world organisation for peace is m P roc y“ h ‘ of construction. Peace may be.ootainable only through, the Unitea States and the Allies’ Armed Forces. . In an article in the Saturday Evening iPost” Mr. Forrestal revealed that the United States Navy added 100 carriers, 30,000 planes and eight battleships, since July, ? •« addition, over 20 cruisers. 600 destroyers and destroyer escorts, iw submarines, and 2,850 landing craft and thousands of auxiliaries had been * built since, the defence programme was initiated. “We had tn do it in the time gained for us by England in 1940-41, and the Russians’ mighty re- . sistance. Next time, there will be no ■. such breathing spell. In the next war the enemy may be over our homes . on the first day of hostilities.”' 1 "