RAID ON MARIANAS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25562, 15 June 1944, Page 5

RAID ON MARIANAS

CARRIER TASK FORCES HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES WASHINGTON, ' (Rec. 10 p.m.) June 13. Carrier task forces raiding Japanese bases in the Marianas sank 13 enemy ships, damaged 16, and destroyed 141 planes in three days. Four * of the sunken craft and nine of those damaged were combat vessels, either destroyers or escort ships. The American losses were 15 planes and 15 members of the crews. The American surface forces wer-e undamaged. Liberators bombed Truk atoll before dawn on Monday, when 38 tons of bombs were dropped on the airfield* and the seaplane base, says a. Pacific fleet communique. Venturas bombed Nauru and Ocean Islands, and attacked gun positions and barracks on Ponape Island. The Maloelap and Wotje atolls in the Marshalls were also bombed. “ The attack on the Marianas was one of the most destructive operations of the war in the Central Pacific area, exceeding the scope of the February and April attacks on Truk and the March raid on Palau,” says the Pearl Harbour correspondent of the New York Times. “The operations extended over a 100-mile front. The communique did not mention enemy; interception, and presumably the American carriers were able to approach Saipan without detection. It is noteworthy that the enemy was unable to send aid to the Marianas from the strong base at Palau. This failure is credited largely to the highly efficient coordination between General AlacArthur’s and Admiral Nimitz’s forces. It is recalled that several days prior to and during the attack General MacArthur’s long-range bombers attacked Palau every day and night, keeping the defenders busy on their home grounds.” Commenting on President Roosevelt’s suggestion that the Japanese will be forced to surrender or commit national suicide sooner than expected, the Herald-Tribune, in an editorial, says: “Japan’s position is almost ridicylously weak, and the Japanese are temperamentally incapable of improv--iag it in the only way possible—through abandoning the entire coprosperity sphere—so that the remains of their merchant marine can handle the supply problem, and so that the outclassed navy and air force may have some hope of prolonging.the war in home waters until the United Nations are sick of it. Now the British and American sea and air forces are almost ready to cut Japan’s overseas communications. Japan’s end cannot be dated until Germany cracks. Then the United Nations can fix the hour at their convenience and discretion. There is no doubt that if it depends upon the American people’s industry and enthusiasm General Tojo’s and Prince Hirohito’s shrift will be short.”