GREAT MARITIME WAR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 13 May 1944, Page 5

GREAT MARITIME WAR

BRITISH AND U.S. NAVIES TO DEFEAT JAPAN London, May 11. “We are eating away against Japanese strongholds now and are doing a fine job. but that is not the waj r the Pacific war will be won,” said Admiral Sir William James, Chief of Naval Information. “After the defeat of Germany we shall move the fleet to the east. With the combined vast resources of the British and American navies 1 cannot see how the Pacific war won’t be won sooner than many people think. It will be a great maritime war. Thjic will be battle fleet actions similar to the last war. It will also be a great air-craft-carrier war.” STATISTICS OF AMERICAN SUCCESSES Washington, May 11. American Army Air Forces in the Pacific and Asia, destroying 4887 enemy planes, lost 1414 planes from 7th December, 1941, to 7th March, 1944, said the Secretary for War, Mr H. L. Stimson. addressing a press conference. He added that the enemy was sending some new air strength into newly developed bases at the western end of New Guinea and nearby Schouten Islands, but Allied planes were turning attention to these regions. American planes had dropped 7730 tons of bombs since 3rd February on Rabaul, where enemy air installations were rendered useless. Americans killed 3170 and took prisoner 158 Japanese in the Admiralty Islands. They killed 1502 and took prisoner 290 at Hollandia and Aitape. It was noteworthy that increasing numbers of Japanese were surrendering. JAPS EXPECT THREAT FROM ALEUTIANS New York, May 11. The lack of important moves in ;he Pacific in the past few months is probably a lull preceding major events, says Tokio official radio. The Americans are preparing for an offensive from the Aleutians where they have built four large air bases and have several hundred planes and five or six infantry divisions including paratroops and airborne troops. The radio adds: “Japanese troops in the northern Kuriles are ready for these offensives. The Aleutians will, one of these days, become a major war theatre.” JAPAN AFTER GERMANY London, May 12. When reinforcements from Britain recently arrived in East Africa, the Commander-in-Chief, General Sir William Platt, included this warning in his welcoming speech. “When the Germans throw in their hands, don’t ask ‘where is my ship?’ Your ship won’t be going west but east. Japan has to be beaten too and a great deal of responsibility and real work for the chaps we are producing in East Africa will begin when things boil up against the Japanese in the Far East. Our job is to send out men as fit and efficient as possible so we can finish off the job at the earliest. AMERICAN WACS IN AUSTRALIA Sydney, May 12. The first members of the American Women’s Army Corps to come to Australia have arrived in Sydney en route to a northern station Numbering several hundred they were given a Hollywood welcome. The United States Army band played the “Star Spangled Banner” and the WACS’ leader was presented with a basket of flowers with a streamer reading: “Welcome WACS.”