JAP FLEET MOVES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 227, 22 June 1944, Page 5

JAP FLEET MOVES

Tokio Reports Fierce Naval Battle EAST OF PHILIPPINES

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received June 21,10 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 20. The Japanese news agency says that a fierce naval battle is raging in the central Pacific. i dlt “The Japanese Fleet has moved into position east ot the Philippines, which may lead to a decisive naval battle, declared Admiral Nimitz, the Commander-in-Chief in the Pacific, in an announcement issued from Pearl Harbour. Admiral Nimitz added that there was reason to hope that some damage had been inflicted on the ‘ Japanese Fleet yesterday. “If a full-dress, knock-down, drag-out naval battle comes, it will be a development worked for by the Pacific Fleet since Midway. Ido not know of anything else we can do to provoke the Japanese into battle,” he said.

“The Americans invaded the Mariannes on the assumption that the Japanese would bring out everything they possibly could, but we put enough muscle into the Fifth Fleet to take care of everything the enemy could muster. “The Japanese Navy must fight soon or abandon the entire ocean defence ring to the Americans. “The presence of strong Japanese units, possibly their entire fleet, in the area west, of the Mariannes indicates the possibility of a major sea engagement. Unfortunately, Ido not control their movements. If I did, there would be a fight. I can safely say we have enough power off the Mariannes to be favourable to us in a decisive engagement. We hope the Japanese Fleet will stay in that area. As long as they stay, we have a chance to get at them. “The Japanese are resisting strongly on Saipan, because they wish to deny the Americans the use of the Mariannes as a springboard for offensive operations against Japan. Not a single American combat unit has been sunk so far in the Saipan operations. Some near-misses damaged auxiliaries and landing-craft, but they are still working. A Good Start. “We have made a good start on capturing the Mariannes, but we do not think it will require, only two or three days. There are at least 20,000 Japanese on Saipan and lots of Japanese on other islands. Its possession will be money in the bank. It will protect operations hundreds of miles westward and northward.” Admiral Nimitz added that his objective in the Mariannes was to project American sea-power to the west into the last big area in the western Pacific under enemy control. General MacArthur was able to protect the southern area with search planes, while planes and ships based in the Mariannes could protect the northern part. He could not speak too highly of General MacArthur’s co-opera-tion in the current operation. The Fifth and 13th Air Forces had made neutralizing raids on Truk, Ponape and other bases in the Carolines to prevent enemy bombers harassing the American fleet in the Mariannes.

The Admiral sfl.id that the Americans now held two airfields on Saipan-Aslito aerodrome, which would 'be ready for operations very soon, and a small strip on a beach north of Charankanoa. Search plant's were already operating from Saipan across the sea between the Mariannes and Japan. The 'iNew .York Times” Pearl Harbour correspondent says that the Japanese Fleet was located yesterday. It is not yet disclosed whether the opposing surface forces have been engaged or whether American carrier planes attacked the enemy fleet. A broadcast by a Columbia Broadcasting System correspondent said: “Stung by the American invasion of the Mariannes, strong Japanese naval units, possibly the whole Japanese Fleet, appeared and a naval engagement may have already started. “The American Fifth Fleet in the last few days has possibly destroyed 600 Japanese planes, including 300 wiped out on Sunday” [when the Japanese attempted to interfere with American amphibious operations at Saipan.]

Announcing that a huge battle was taking shape, Tokio radio promised the Japanese people a decisive victory. Other Axis broadcasts said that the entire United States Pacific Fleet was concentrated' round the Mariannes, adding that both sides would fight bitterly for possession of Saipan Island.

A Japanese naval spokesman, broadcasting over Tokio official radio, said that war results of the immediate future should be closely watched. The big naval battle of the Mariannes area would liave far-reaching results in the Pacific war situation. ■