KWAJALEIN ISLETS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 8 February 1944, Page 5

KWAJALEIN ISLETS

BLOWS FROM CARRIER PLANES

NAVAL AND AIR BASE BEING PREPARED

Washington, Feb. 6.

The occupation of Kwajalein atoll is nearly complete with the capture of more islands, disclosed the Navy. Carrier planes yesterday struck at Eniwetok. Army Warhawks bombed and strafed ground installations on Jaluit. Liberators and Mitchells bombed Wotje, starting large fires. Ground facilities were hit, also aerodrome installations and gun emplacements at Maloelap. Liberators and Warhawks struck at Mili. Navy search planes bombed Wotje and Taroa Island and Ujelang atoll.

The Associated Press °f America points out that Ujelang, bombed for the first time, may have an airfield which the Americans are neutralising to protect the Marshalls operations. It also says that a powerful naval and air base is rising rapidly from the wreckage of Roi and Namur, where hardly a spot was undamaged by the devastating bombs. Giant bulldozers are being used to rush the reconstruction of the islands and clear out wreckage as well as heaps of dead Japanese. Only one woman was found in all the islets. She was a native crouching in a tunnel. However, there is indication that about 500 others who had been working for the Japanese fled to outer islets when the invasion struck. Only a few Japanese prisoners were taken, one .of whom is apparently a firm believer in Tokio propaganda. He boasted to the marines: “Well you took the Marshalls but you will never take Pearl Harbour ” NO NAVAL LOSSES With the conquest of Kwajalein the American flag flies over approximately 700 square miles of the Central Pacific taken without a single naval loss, although the strong Japanese naval base of Truk is only 900 miles away. The “New York Times” Pearl Harbour correspondent says Admiral Nimitz has announced his intention to take all the Marshalls. If the Japanese choose to fight to the bitter end for each island, they must be prepared for heavy losses. The Kwajalein fighting has probably already cost them more casualties than the entire Gilberts operations.

Major-General Charles Corlett, divisional commander, said 40 Japanese were killed for every American at Kwajalein. The number of prisoners taken exceeds those of any other Pacific operation, which may indicate that the Japanese are beginning to realise the meaning of the word surrender. Many surrendered in response to an invitation broadcast from loudspeakers. The 75-day pre-invasion aerial bombardment of the Marshalls by Army, Navy and Marine aircraft saved the American invasion fleets from Japanese air attack, said Rear-Admiral John Hoover. Sustained attacks caused damage greater than photographs revealed. They assisted the invasion by: (1) grounding Japanese planes because petrol, oil, ammunition dumps and repair shops and other facilities were destroyed; (2) prevented ihe enemy from sending out scout planes on long searches which undoubtedly would have resulted in early detection of the approaching forces: (3) killed and wounded a considerable number of enemy personnel and destroyed gun positions. Remaining Japanese garrisons in other atolls m the Marshalls would be blocktuJ r ° m l^e a * r in continuation of the drive to prevent new supplies of ships and planes reaching the enemy