AID FOR LANDING ON SAIPAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 144, 17 June 1944, Page 5

AID FOR LANDING ON SAIPAN

MACARTHUR’S BOMBERS IMPORTANCE OF THE NEW OFFENSIVE AIRFIELDS NEAR JAPAN (Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Recd. 10.35 p.m. Sydney, June 16. The heaviest strikes yet delivered by General MacArthur’s bombers on Japanese reinforcement bases in the Central Pacific coincide 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 night, was the most northerly blow yet dealt by General MacArthur’s forces. Yap Island 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. The airfield of Truk, 700 miles south-east of the Marianas, was pounded with a record bombload of 180 tons by two waves of Liberators making

daylight attacks on Tuesday. About forty fighters intercepted the raids or Truk, nine being shot down in comI bat. and a tenth probably destroyed. I 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 the airfields and wiping out plane reinforcements which might have opposed yesterday’s American landing on Saipan. General Mac- • Arthur's communique makes no mention of any Allied losses in this series of raids. These operations important- ■ ly supported the invasion of the MariI anas, the greatest penetration yet accomplished of Japan’s ring of island bases. Saipan, where the initial landing w as made, is closed to the Japanese | homeland than any other place yet [occupied by Allied forces. It stands [athwart Japan’s direct supply line to bases in the Carolines. Its occupation by the Americans imperil enemy bases ; and garrisons over a vast area of the central Pacific. A Pear! Harbour report estimates that 20,000 Japanese troops on Saipan, which is 15 miles long and tour miles wide. Not only the Japanese central Pacific, bases, but the Philippines, the China coast and the Japanese mainlaud itself would be threatened by occupation of the Marianas, which lie within possible bombing range of all these areas. Thus hard lighting can be expected for possession of I he group. Saipan is the most, important island in the Marianas. In its 74 square miles there are no high mountains. Several airstripes already have been constructed. Magizienne Bay, on the western side of the island, is suitable for a naval base. The chief town on Saipan is Garapan. The island is weli loaded and has about 100 miles of ra'lway. The civilian population com-

prises Japanese, Kanakas and Chamorros, a strange Christia-.i race, half Spanish and half Filipino. ’l'he Marianas comprise 15 islands, one of which is the former American base of Guam. The other 11 islands were part of the Japanese mandated territories gained from Germany in 1919.