PACIFIC GAINS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25454, 8 February 1944, Page 3

PACIFIC GAINS

MARSHALLS BASES NOT ONE NAVAL LOSS BOMBERS NOW REACHING OUT . (Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 7. 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 at Truk is only 900 miles away. , The Pearl Harbour correspondent of the New York Times says that 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. Forty to One Major-general Charles Corlett, divi- * sional commander, said that 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 a Japanese air attack, said Rear-admiral John Hoover. The sustained attacks caused damage greater than the photographs revealed, and they assisted the invasion by, first, grounding Japanese planes because petrol, oil, and ammunition dumps, repair shops, and other facilities were destroyed; secondly, they prevented the enemy from sending out scout planes on long searches, which undoubtedly would have resulted in the early detection of the approaching forces; thirdly, they killed or wounded a considerable number of enemy personnel and destroyed gun positions. The remaining Japanese garrisons on other atolls in the Marshalls, Rearadmiral Hoover said, would be blockaded from the air in continuation of the drive to prevent new supplies, ships, and planes from reaching the enemy. More Islands Captured The occupation of Kwajalein atoll is nearly complete with the capture of more islands, states a navy communique which was issued to-day. Carrier-based planes yesterday struck at Eniwetok. Army Warhawks bombed and strafed ground installations on Jaluit. Liberators and Mitchells bombed Wotje, starting large fires in ground facilities, and they hit aerodrome installations and gun emplacements at Maloelap. Liberators aiid Warhawks struck at Mili, while naw search planes bombed Wotje, Taroa Island, and Ujelang atoll. The Associated Press points out that Ujelang, which was bombed for the first time, may have an airfield which the Americans arp neutralising to protect the Marshalls operations. The Associated Press also says that a powerful naval and air base is rising rapidlj from the wreckage of Roi and Namur, where hardly a-spot escaped damage by devastating bombs. Giant bulldozers are being used to rush the reconstruction of the islands and clear the wreckage, as well as heaps of dead Japanese. Only one woman was found on all the islets. She was a native who was found crouching in a tunnel. There are indications, however, that about 500 others, who had been working for the Japanese, fled to the outer islets when the invasion started. Only a few .Japanese prisoners were taken, one of whom, apparently a firm believer in Tokio propaganda, boasted to the marines: “Well, you have taken the Marshalls, but you will never take Pearl Harbour.”