Bases

Blow At Jap

American Naval Demonstration in Marshalls

ON a date that has not been an nounced, but which apparently was about the end of January, a large force of United States warships and air craft attacked five Japanese islands bases in the Marshall Islands (Jaluit,

Wotje, Kwajalei, Roi and Taroa), and one (Butaritari) in the Gilberts.

The latter was taken from the Brit ish about December 8.

The Americans sent along a fleet cap able of dealing with enemy capital ships, but no such enemy ships were found — only small naval vessels and aircraft.

The American official communique said: “Japanese losses included a 17,000ton aircraft-carrier, a light cruiser, a destroyer, 2 submarines, 11 auxiliary vessels, and 38 planes (mostly big bomb ers, including five 4-engined flying boats). Ships damaged included an old cruiser, 4 auxiliaries, and 3 submarines.

Installations razed included 9 modern hangars, fuel and munition dumps, a concrete causeway, shore batteries, store houses, warehouses, and quarters.”

The attack apparently was made with bombs, torpedoes and guns, and the string of Japanese bases—which, of course, threatened the eastern, central and south-eastern Pacific—was heavily damaged.

Eleven American aircraft were lost.

One commentator said that the Ameri can fleet comprised 150 vessels and that it steamed 2,000 miles from Hawaii through waters infested with submar ines and aerial scouts.

Australian newspaper commentators early in February hailed this event as “heralding the turning point of the Battle of the Pacific.”

Actually, it was merely a raid demon strating American naval strength, but it had little other significance. Since the raid, the Japanese have continued to score resounding victories over all the Allied forces in the Pacific.