MACARTHUR’S SUPPORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25564, 17 June 1944, Page 5

MACARTHUR’S SUPPORT

JAPANESE BASES BOMBED FIRST ATTACK ON YAP (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 16. . The heaviest blows yet delivered by General MacArthur's bombers on Japanese reinforcement bases in the Central Pacific coincided with the American invasion of the Marianas, only 1400. miles south of Tokio. For the first time the targets included Yap Island, 600 miles south-west of the Marianas. This raid on Tuesday nigh* was the most northerly blow yet dealt by General MacArthur’s forces. Yap has been highly developed as a war base by the Japanese. It lies 260 miles north-east of Palau, 95 miles from the Admiralties, and 1250 miles from Port Moresby. It is a central distributing depot for supplies, with large coal fuel and other military stores, as well as a seaplane base and airfield. Truk, 700 miles south-east of the Marianas, was pounded with a record bomb load of 180 tons by two waves of Liberators making daylight attacks on Tuesday. About 40 fighters intercepted the raids on Truk, nine being shot down in combat and a tenth probably destroyed.

Woleai, between Yap and Truk, was also bombed by South-west Pacific Liberators on Tuesday. Several grounded planes were destroyed. All these blows were aimed at neutralising airfields and wiping out. plane reinforcements which might have opposed yesterday’s American landing at Saipan. General MacArthur’s communique makes no mention of any Allied losses in this series of raids. These operations importantly supported the invasion of the Marianas, the greatest penetration yet accomplished of Japan’s ring of island bases. Saipan, where the initial landing was made, is closer to the Japanese homeland than any other place yet occupied by the Allied forces. It stands athwart Japan’s direct supply line to bases in the Carolines. Thus its occupation by the Americans imperils enemy bases and garrisons over a vast area in the Central Pacific.

A Pearl Harbour report estimates that there are 20,000 Japanese troops on Saipan, which is 15 miles long and four miles wide. Not only Japanese Central Pacific bases, but the Philippines, the China coast, and the Japanese mainland itself would be threatened by occupation of the Marianas, which lie within possible bombing range of all these areas. Thus hard fighting can be expected for possession of the group.

Saipan is the most important island in the Marianas. In its 74 square miles there are no high mountains. Several airstrips have already been constructed. Magicienne Bey, on the western side of the island, is suitable for a naval base. The chief town of Saipan is Garapan. The island is well roaded and has about 100 miles of railway. The civilian population comprises Japanese, Kanakas, and Chamorros; a strange Christian race, half Spanish and half Filipino. The Marianas comprise 15 islands, one of which is the former American base of Guam. The other 14 islands were part of the Japanese mandated territories gained from Germany in 1919.

The Pear] Harbour correspondent of the New York Times states that Saipan is believed to have been reinforced with men and material during recent months. The Japanese are obviously aware of the stakes involved, and are expected to defend the large island bitterly, as they are in a position- to inflict severe punishment on landing forces. Saipan in 1936 had a civilian- population of at least 25,000, which is believed to have increased during the war. The importance of the operation is emphasised by Saipan’s proximity to Japan, It is pointed out that victory will bring at an early date the next phase in the crushing of Japan—concentrated attacks by land-based bombers from all sides. The effects upon Japanese morale cannot fail to be staggering. particularly in view of the super-bombers’ attack from the Asiatic mainland. Inasmuch as Saipan is a major base for the movement of Japanese men and materials to the Carolines and the South-west Pacific, its fall might be the first scene in a drama of swift collapse of enemy bases scattered over thousands of miles of the Pacific.