EXTENSIVE DAMAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 99, 26 March 1942, Page 6

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE

U.S. NAVAL ATTACKS. •(United Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 1.30) WASHINGTON, Mar. 25. The task force of the United Status Pacific Fleet which raided Wake and Marcus Islands recently, says a navy communique, caused extensive damage. The communique says: Vice-Ad-miral Halsey, commander of the naval attack on the Marshall islands in January, delivered additional blows at two enemy outposts; the first, on February 34, at Wake island, and the ee-cond on March 3, at Marcus island. Although the islands have been the scene of much, recent enemy activity, these surprise attacks were met' with little opposition. The attacking forces found a few enemy planes and ships in the areas. Considerable damage was done to shore positions, aircratt runways and water tanks by a combined bombardment from aircraft and surface vessels, following the pattern so effectively used at the Marshall Islands. At Wake Island 219 bombs from aircraft and many shells from cruisers and destroyers were rained on shore installations and the landing field. Two enemy patrol-boats were sunk, three large seaplanes at anchor demolished, aircraft runways and part of the defence batteries damaged. Our loss in this engagement was one aircraft. At Marcus Island our forces executed a successful air attack before dawn on March 4, dropping Hares to illuminate the objectives. No cjiemy aircraft or ships were present. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered, but our planes dropped 96 bombs, resulting in considerable damage to hangars, fuel and ammunition storages, radio installations and aircraft runways. Our loss in this engagement was one aircraft. . The Navy .Department has revealed that 32 sailors who were trapped in the hull of the capsized battleship Oklahoma in Pearl Harbour on December 7 were saved by civilian workmen cutting through the steel sides of the ship .while under fire. The workmen <lu<* through the hull with pneumatic drills all day and all night and al next day, releasing groups of trapped sailors from the pitch-black compartments which were slowly filling with ■water. The sailors signalled to their rescuers by tapping the inside of the hull Many times the rescuers had to halt work in order to dodge flying bplinters from bursting shells. _ The Navy Department gave citations to 20 workers and one officer involved in the rescue. It is reported from Pearl Harbour that Admiral Niruitz decorated ViceAdmiral Halsey with the Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his feat at the Marshall and Gilbert Islands raid on Jaunary 31. Admiral Nimitz also presented the Navy Cross to Harold Dixon and commendations to Anthony Pastula and Gene Oldrich, who survived 34 days at sea in a tiny rubber life raft when their navy bomber crashed.