JAPS LOSE ATTU

Grey River Argus, 1 June 1943, Page 5

JAPS LOSE ATTU

GARRISON OF 2080

Believed Ail Wiped Out [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] ■ WASHINGTON, May 30. All organ’,"led resistance by the Japanese on Attu Island has collapsed, declared the spokesman of the United States Navy Department, to-day. 4 . The Navy in a communique stated that on Friday United States Army troops cleared Japanese from the easterly and northerly faces of Fishook Ridge', on Attu Island. Next day at dawn the enemy counter-at-tacked on the right flank of the United States forces in Chicagof Valley. Except for snipers, this enemy force has been annihilated. Preliminary reports indicate that Japanese casualties were high. unfavourable weather prevented air operations. Japanese Headquarters has announced that there ha's been no worn from the troops on Attu for the past 24 hours, and it is assumed that they have been wiped out. The Tokio radio says: An Imperial Headquarters communique says: "Our garrison on Attu dauntlessly fought against the American force, but on May 29 gave their final blow against the' enemy, and the entire number of about 2.000, and several hundred soldiers, fought bravely and perished. It is thought that the entire number of our force has completely perished and that those wounded'and unable to participate in the offensive killed (themselves preceding the final offensive, lhe damage inflicted on the enemy to May 28 was at least 6000. Kiska' is still in our hands. About 2000 Japanese defended Attu. The enemy totalled 20,000. Since May 12 our garrison on A~.u had been carrying out decisive battles against a superior force. However, on May 29 it was decided to carry out a final blow against the enemy’s main force. So true to the nature our gallant Imperial Force can show the enemy, we commenced a gallant offensive. Since then communication has been completely cut off.