RAIDS FROM SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24832, 2 March 1944, Page 5

RAIDS FROM SEA

MARIANAS AND•TRUK ENEMY WEAKNESS REVEALED (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 29 The attack against the Mariana Islands, north of the Carolines, last week was made by substantially the same fast heavy-weight task force which raided Truk, says an Associated Press correspondent who was on board a battleship off Saipan. "The deadly accuracy of the American anti-aircraft fire, plus Japanese fumbling," the correspondent adds, "vindicated Rear - Admiral Mitscher's decision to go through with the attack against an enemy who knew we were coming and who was able to use land-based planes.

"The weakness of the enemy air opposition seems to indicate a Japanese shortage of planes." Japanese Deception The correspondent, who also observed the attack on Truk, says: "Previously the Navy acknowledged that it knew little about Truk. Now we know just about all we need to know r . Truk's principal weakness was exposed by our aircraft-carrier attack —it lacks necessary near by supporting air bases and the enemy is unable to muster any planes to fight back after his own fields have been neutralised." ■v Japan may have hoodwinked the world into believing that Truk was its "Pearl Harbour," whereas its major outlying naval stronghold is elsewhere, probably in the Bonins, north of the Marianas, according to naval experts in Washington. They say that the American forces which raided Truk found no battleship dry-dock or other first-class naval maintenance facilities.

Tokyo Admission The Tokyo radio states: "The American attack on the Marianas was nothing short of astonishing, but we simply cannot consider this as merely a rash attempt. It was a challenge for a decisive battle. W<s must bear in mind that if we had a still greater number of aircraft we could have engaged the strong task force that recklessly plunged into our iron-wall defence positions, and could have sunk it entirely." The broadcaster appealed for increased aeroplane production, declaring that Japan was fully aware that the speedy Allied advance could not be regarded lightly.

JAPAN'S SHIP LOSSES AMERICAN SUBMARINES 14 MORE VESSELS SUNK WASHINGTON, Feb. 2!> The sinking of 14 enemy vessels in Pacific and Far East waters by United States submarines was announred today by the Navy Department. The ships were one large tanker, one medium cargo transport, one sinali cargo vessel and 11. medium-sized cargo vessels. Commenting on the sinkings, the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel W. F. Knox, said that American submarine activities had been increasingly successful. Japanese shipping losses in February through all types of American action totalled 189 vessels sunk, probably sunk or damaged, including 22 combat and 167 non-combat vessels. Well over 3,000,000 tons of merchant shipping had been sunk of the 7,500,000 tons with which the Japanese were believed to have started the war. Colonel Knox said: "The manner in which the Japanese are handling their operations shows that they aro growing short of cargo and transport vessels. and we have had very good luck in getting a considerable number of Japanese tankers. American submarine losses have been surprisingly small. Japanese anti-submarine technique lias improved, but our evasion technique likewise has improved." He described Axis radio reports of a continuing American attack against, Guam, the most southerly and largest island in the Marianas, as "mis-state-ments for propaganda purposes, and intended mainly for local consumption." WIN FOR DEMOCRATS (Rccd. 10.50 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 1 In a by-election for the 21st Congressional district Mr. James H. Torrens, Democrat, defeated Mr. William Bennet, Republican. The United Press sa.ys the result is widely regarded as a likely indication of November trends.