HEAVILY RAIDED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 239, 6 July 1944, Page 5

HEAVILY RAIDED

Japanese Island Bases In North Pacific FAST CARRIER GROUP (By' Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received July 5, 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 4. "Iwojima, in the Volcano Islands, and I-laliajiina, in the Bonin Islands, in the north Pacific, were heavily attacked by carrier aircraft of a fast carrier task group yesterday,” says a Pacific Fleet commuuitjue. "Iwojima was severely bombed and strafed and also shelled by cruisers, destroyers, and by rocket-lire from carrier aircraft which were extensively employed on both objectives. "Preliminary reports indicate the following damage to the enemy:—Three destroyers sunk or beached; one large cargo-ship sunk; one medium oiler sunk; one destroyer dead iu the water and burning; several small cargo ships damaged. "Harbour installations and warehouses on Habajinta were set on fire by bombs, rockets ami machinegun fire. 'Twenty-live enemy’ planes were shot down by our aircraft and an undetermined number damaged on the ground. We lost six planes. 'There was no damage to auy of our surface craft.” An earlier communique said: “Carrier aircraft of a fast carrier group attacked two .Tima Island on Sunday. Besides 39 enemy fighters which attempted interception and were shot clown, 16 more were probably destroyed. Two small vessels were strafed and bomb hits were scored on a fuel dump. “When carrier aircraft bombed .Rota Island and light naval surface units .shelled Rota on ‘Sunday, the runways and revetments were hit. A huge explosion was caused, apparently by a hit on an ammunition dump. "Liberators bombed Truk Atoll < on Saturday and Sunday, mid other planes attacked the Marshalls.” \