Truk is Still a Potent Obstacle

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 126, 31 May 1944, Page 5

Truk is Still a Potent Obstacle

After Three Months of Almost Constant Bombing (By Telegraph—Pre«s Assn.— Copyright.) Received Tuesday, 11.20 p.m. NEW YORK, May 30. “After three months of almost constant oombing there is no sign of appreciable weakening but rather Plenty of evidence that Truk Is still a potent obstacle to our westward push across the Central Pacific, “ says the new Yora Times’ Pearl Harbour correspondent. “Army comber crews making almost daily suuttie runs to heat’ the Carolines deiences nave a healthy respect for the Japanese garrison and say Truk is a long way from tue condition known to exist at Jaluit, Mill and otner enemy-held atolls in the Marsaails which have been 'processed.' Tne Japanese have been meeting our nigat uomoers with some German deiences, including pnosphorus bombs dropped xrom aoove. Air observers in the Pacific know that the Zero is no monger expendable as it was earlier in the war. The Pacific Fleet announce-

ments rarely mention air interception in force but scarcely ever over Truk where usually only about four planes go up but keep away from our bombers’ guns apparently only to direct the ground deiences. As an airbase Truk *s third rate but is still well defended irom the ground. A Pacific Fleet communique reports that Army Liberators dropped 101 tons of oombs on Ponape Island in daylight on Saturday, hitting the principal targets at x onape town and airfields, also barracks, hangars and storage areas. The ackack was moderate, xfavy aircraft dropped 50 tons of bombs on Wotje atoll on Saturday afternoon, hitting defence installations and starting several fires. Other Navy planes attacked other objectives in the Marshalls.