MARCUS ISLAND ATTACKED

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21688, 26 March 1942, Page 5

MARCUS ISLAND ATTACKED

MARCUS ISLAND RAIDED IMPORTANCE AS BASE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 26, 11.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 25 It is announced from Pearl Harbour that the official navy spokesman described the attack on Marcus Island as swift and cleanly completed. The spokesman stressed that Marcus Island is potentially a highly valuable base for aircraft as well as surface patrol units, greatly extending the range of patrol aircraft. The spokesman said that Tokio ordered blackouts on several nights following the attack on Marcus Island. The task of the force of the United States Pacific Fleet which raided Wake and Marcus Islands recently, says a navy communique, was to cause extensive damage. The communique says that Vice-Admiral Halsey, who commanded the naval attack on the Marshall Islands on January 31, delivered the additional blows at the two enemy outposts, the first on February 24 at Wake Island, and the second on March 4 at Marcus Island. Although the islands had been the scene of much recent enemy activity these surprise attacks met with little opposition and the attacking forces found few enemy Wanes or ships in the areas. “Considerable damage was done to shore installations, defence shore positions, aircraft runways and water tanks by the combined bombardment from aircraft and surface vessels, following the pattern so effectively used at the Marshall Islands. Only Two Planes Lost “At Wake Island 219 bombs from aircraft and many shells from cruisers and destroyers were rained on shore installations and the land-ing-field. Two enemy patrol boats were sunk, three large seaplanes at anchor were demolished, aircraft runways and part of the defence batteries were damaged. Our loss in this engagement was one aircraft. 4 At Marcus Island the forces executed a successful air attack beloie dawn on March 4, dropping flares to illuminate the objectives. No enemy aircraft or ships were present but heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered. Our planes dropped 96 bombs, resulting in considerable damage to hangars, fuel, ammunition storages, radio installations and aircraft runways. Our loss in this engagement was one aircraft.”