NAVAL RAID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25455, 9 February 1944, Page 3

NAVAL RAID

KURILE ISLANDS JAPANESE HOME WATERS SURPRISE BOMBARDMENT NEW YORK, Feb. 7. United States warships have bombarded Japanese home territory for the first time. The Associated Press correspondent on board a United States destroyer reports that warships battered the harbour and land installations at Kuraba Point, on the southern tip of Paramushiro Island, in the Kuriles. The bombardment, which lasted 20 minutes, took the enemy completely by surprise. The attacking force steamed under a bright moon within five miles of the shore batteries. The wild nature of the Japanese gunnery indicated that they feared that invasion was already under way. When the attack started the enemy gunners first fired into the air, then along the beaches and into the sea. Not one vessel in the attacking force was hit. The destroyers led the heavier task force units into shelling positions along the eastern side of Kuraba Point, while the remainder of the force swung westwards towards the Sea. of Okhotsk and bombarded from that side. The bombardment was centred on buildings and other shore objects. One small mer-

chant shin was hit a number of times and left Reached and badly crippled. No other shipping was seen. The cask force continued upshore searching for other targets before turning seaward, leaving several large fires blazing. The bombardment was preceded by strafing by Catalinas and Venturas last Friday morning. The Tokio correspondent of a German news agency says the Allies are preparing to attack the Kurile Islands, hoping to get nearer the Japanese mainland.

Washington emphasises that the attack on the Kuriles is not an isolated propaganda effort, but is part of a detailed general offensive against Japan. Admiral E. J. King, commander-in-chief of the American Fleet, states that everything that is being done in the Pacific is an integral part of the plan to defeat Japan. The Navy Department says that a flight of aircraft bombed Paramushiro ,and Shimushu. All the planes returned. Shimushu is north of Paramushiro.

The air attacks were carried out by navy bombers from the Aleutians. These bombers were repeatedly attacked by night fighters, which were unable to inflict damage.