GOING BY DEFAULT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24613, 18 June 1943, Page 3

GOING BY DEFAULT

HOLD ON ALEUTIANS ENEMY FAILS TO REINFORCE (Reed. 8.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 16 The Japanese apparently are letting the Aleutians go by default, says the New York Times correspondent with the North Pacific Fleet. He nays that since March 27, when a small American task force outfought a Japanese naval group twice its size and turned back an enemy convoy bound for Afcta, the Japanese have not attempted to supply their troops isolated in the Aleutians except by submarine. Also, the enemy has launched only two feeble air attacks from Paramusliiru against the Americans mopping up on Attn. The failure of the Japanese to react to the American advance, tho correspondent continues, confirms the opinion that their original attacks in the Aleutians last June were intended as a diversion for the Battle of Midway, and that the subsequent investment of Kiska, Attn and Aggatu evidently was an after-thought inspired by the weakness of American military establishments.

Now the Japanese seek only to make tlio recapture of tlio Aleutians as difficult as possible by using their troops already there. . Japan has gone on the defensive in tho hope of holding Greater East Asia, says the New York Times in an editorial article commenting on the meeting of the Japanese Diet. It states: "Tojo's speech is so contrary to tho true situation that it sounds fantastic. "Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to uridor-estimatc Japan's strength. While the Allies concentrate against. Hitler .Japan is growing stronger every day and the longer victory in Kurope is delayed the harder it will be to defeat Japan. That is why speed is the essence of victory."

DEFEAT THE ALLIES TOJO'S BOAST TO DIET Jtine 36 "Japan is strengthening her positions for a. sure victory." Raid the Prirno Minister of Japan, Tojo, addressing an extraordinary session of the Japanese Diet, according to the Tokio official radio. lie added: "Alarmed by the rapid development of our position, Britain and America are attempting to obstruct and check us at all costs.

"They increasingly show signs of making further offensives by mobilising a massive force, but Japan has foreseen these things and her Imperial forces will meet the British and American counter-offensive wherever it comes. Japan is developing new methods to defeat it and will put forth all her efforts until her adversaries are brought to submission." Tojo added that it was Japan's immutable policy to free Greater East Asia permanently from Anglo-Sa,\on domination. He said that Japan intended to facilitate the rise of China, and was more than ever determined to assist China by all means possible. Fie reiterated that independence would be granted to the Philippines and to Burma, and added that the independence of the Philippines would be greater this year. Japan was also resolved to exhaust all means to expel and eliminate Anglo-Saxon influences from India. Tojo added that he had complete confidence in Japan's Axis partners.

15 ZEROS FOUGHT OFF

LONE BOMBER'S EXPERIENCE ALLIED RAID ON KENDARI (Special Australian Correspondent) (Reed. 9.-10 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 17 With five of its crew casualties, a badly damaged Flying Fortress fought 15 Zeros over the Buka Passage, in the North-eastern Solomons on Wednesday morning and returned safely to its base. The dramatic battle is mentioned in today's communique from General MacArthurs headquarters. The Fortress was on a reconnaissance mission when it was attacked at an altitude of 25,000 feet. However, it fought off the formidable enemy fighter force and brought back valuable photographs. The biggest Allied raid reported in to-day's communique was made on Kendari, the main enemy base in the Celebes. Australian-based Liberators dropped 16 tons of bombs on the aerodrome there. An Australian war correspondent who accompanied the raiders reports that the Japanese defences apparently were taken by surprise. Numerous explosions occurred among parked aircraft, while direct hits were scored on administration installations. Fires started were visible 50 miles away. Medium bombers started fires in a night raid on the town area of Koepang, Timor. In Markham Valley, Northern New Guinea, Beaufighters strafed Boana village and near by areas.

Enemy aircraft were also active over this territory. Six bombers, escorted by six Zeros, attacked two native villages on the Rnmu River. Three enemy bombers also raided the Buna area. Papua, dropping bombs inland from Buna as well as at Cape Sudest. They caused no damage or casualties.

YAMAMOTO'S DEATH

ARMY AND NAVY FEUD CHUNGKING, June 1(» A Chinese military spokesman said evidence indicated that Admiral Yamamoto, commander-in-chief of the combined Japanese naval fleets, was not killed in action as announced, but was assassinated in Manila by Japanese a.s the result of a terrible feud which exists between the Japanese army and navy. The spokesman added that the Japanese Prime Minister, Tojo, recently visited Manila to settle the feud.

! It was announced on May 22 that j Yamainoto had been killed in a warj plane during an air duel with the enemy lin April while directing strategic operations. On May 24 a Washington ! report stated that an examination of Japanese broadcasts raised the possibility that Yamamoto had been killed in a passenger plane crash rather than in combat. A Tokio broadcast to Burma on April IS reported that a largo passenger plane carrying 14 persons, including "very high ranking officials," had crashed into the sea between Singapore and Bangkok.

JAPANESE LOSSES NEW YORK, June 10 The Japanese Minister of the Navy, Admiral Shigetaro Shimada, announced in the Diet that Japanese sea and air losses during the war had been as follows: —877 planes, one battleship, three aircraft-carriers, three cruisers, 19' destroyers, 11 submarines, and 13 other warships. The Government introduced eight major bills, including a supplementary Budget of 620.000.000 yens for the army and navy, and a 420.000.000 yens order to subsidise food production.

ATTACK OFF ICELAND (Rood. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON. ,lnno 17 A four-engined German bomber machine-gunned the 800-ton Icelandic ship Sudin off the north coast of Teeland on Monday afternoon, says a message from Reykjavik. Two seamen were killed and five injured. The ship wa< ba'dly damaged and was lowed to port.