CARRIER HIT BY TORPEDO

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24302, 17 June 1942, Page 3

CARRIER HIT BY TORPEDO

AMERICAN ACTION OFF ALEUTIANS a ™-~ HIKGTO!{ , Jun „ „ United States torpedo planes sank a Japanese cruiser and scored a direct hit on an aircraft-carrier in an attack on the main Japanese task force off the Aleutian Islands. Lieutenant-General H> H . Arnold, deputy-Chief of Staff of the United States Army, disclosed this to-day. Lieutenant-General Arnold said 826 bombers made three attacks against the Japanese force, sinking the cruiser by scoring two hits with torpedoes, besides dropping a torpedo on the deck of a"JaP anese carrier. A Navy Department communique states that the Army and savy are continuing air attacks against the Japanese forces recently reported to have landed on the western Aleutian Islands. Foul weather is hampering operations, but reports indicate that at least three cruisers, a destroyer, a gunboat and a transport have been damaged, some severely. Except for these continuing air attacks against the enemy landing parties and supporting naval contingents in the face of terrible weather conditions, the general situation at the Aleutian Islands appears to be unchanged. The Navy Department approved the release of LieutenantGeneral Arnold's statement, although the communique does not mention the sinking of a cruiser. This statement was made by Lieutenant-General Arnold in a message to the Glen Martin Aircraft Corporation in the United States, which made the torpedocarrying planes used in the attacks. Earlier messages from a military spokesman at Washington reported that six heavy attacks had been launched from the air on Japanese forces occupying two small islands in the Aleutians. Hits were scored on cruisers, destroyers and gunboats in Kiska harbour. In a broadcast to Germany, Tokio radio said that the Japanese losses in the Midway and the Aleutians actions were not inconsiderable, and the greatest the navy had suffered since the outbreak of war.