JAPANESE ON ATTU

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23962, 1 June 1943, Page 5

JAPANESE ON ATTU

End of Organised ' Resistance STATEMENT IN WASHINGTON (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) LONDON. May 3#. "All organised resistance by the Japanese on Attu Island in the Aleutians has collapsed,” declared a spokesman at the United States Navy Department to-day, accord* ing to a message from Washing* ton. A United States Navy communique says: "On Friday United States Army troops cleared the Japanese from the easterly and northerly faces of Fishhook Ridge on Attu Island. The next day, at dawn, the enemy counter-at-tacked on the right flank of the United States forces in Chichagof Valley. Except for snipers, this enemy force was annihilated. Preliminary reports indicate that the Japanese casualties were high. Unfavourable weather prevented air operations. A Japanese Imperial Headquarter* communique says: “Our garrison on Attu dauntlessly fought against the American force, but finally, on Saturday, gave its final blow against the enemy. The entire number of just over 2000 fought bravely, but perished. Since May 12 our garrison on Attu has been carrying on decisive battles against a superior force. However, on Saturday it was decided to carry out the final blow against the enemy’s main force. So that the true nature of our gallant imperial force could be shown to the enemy we commenced ■ gallant offensive. “Since then communication has been completely cut off. It is thought that the entire number of our force completely perished. Those wounded were unable to-participate in the offensive and killed themselves preceding the final offensive. Colonel Yasuoy Yamazaki commanded the troops. Losses inflicted on the enemy to Friday were at least 6000. Kiska is still in our hands. About 2000 Japanese defended Attu, The enemy totalled 20,000.”

ELECTION POLICY, ANNOUNCED

OPPOSITION PARTIES IN AUSTRALIA POST-WAR MEASURES (Rec. 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 31. The election, policy of the combined United Australia and United Country Parties, which form the Opposition in Australia’s Federal Parliament, has been announced by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr A. W. Fadden). ‘He summonsed the Opposition’s policy under four brief headings—“Vfctdry, liberty, security, prosperity.’’ Introducing a long 'lB-point statement, Mr Fadden said that the Opposition parties stood for “a policy that will ensure work for all who are physically fit, and will impose an obligation on them to work.” He added: “We see Australia’s future in freedom of belief, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and freedom for individual initiative and enterprise.” One Australasian Army in the war and the maintenance of strong permanent defence forces and preference for former service personnel after the war were other points of Mr Fadden's policy. He promises taxation reform on the “pay as you go” principle, and a review of the effect of taxation upon persons with family responsibilities. He emphasises the preservation of private enterprise and individual initiative as an essential basis for a progressive post-war world, but his programme also advocates the control of prices and the prevention of exploitation. The Opposition considers ’ that the Government should create a finance organisation" with adequate resources to assist industry in Its readjustment from war activity to peace-time production. Suitable immigration under Government direction and assistance is regarded as necessary for the increased population which is seen as a vital factor in Australia’s future. The Opposition statement outlines a comprehensive policy of social security to give freedom from want, and ensuring means of securing adequate food, clothing, and housing."

PRESIDENT OF CHINA SERIOUSLY ILL

(Rec 7 p.m.) CHUNGKING. May 30. Mr Lin Sen, President of China, is ill a coma. His doctors say he has A fifty-fifty chance of surviving. RECAPTURE AFTER ESCAPE AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. WAR PRISONERS (Rec. 11 p.m.) PERTH, May 31. After tunnelling 140 feet, 16 Australian and three New Zealand prisoners of war in an Italian camp broke out in a desperate but unavailing attempt to reach the Swiss border. After being free for five days they were Recaptured. Their long-planned escape was based on a famous escape by British prisoners in Germany during the last war. The story of the escape is told in a letter home by a Western Australian prisoner who served 30 days in a cell for his part in the venture. . A curious aspect is that this man, in an earlier letter to his brother, advised him to read chapter 13 of a book “by a bloke named Evans.” *This book, "The Escaping Club.” told how British prisoners in the last war tunnelled out of their camp, with tablA knives and forks.