JAPANESE AT KISKA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1942, Page 3

JAPANESE AT KISKA

“TOEHOLD NOT REGARDED AS SERIOUS” RESULTS OF THE RECENT BOMBARDMENT. ARMY-NAVY CO-OPERATION IMPROVING. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) WASHINGTON, August 15. The Japanese toehold at Kiska and Attu constitutes a potential threat, but the situation is not serious, said a ranking naval officer who has returned from the Aleutians. He added: “If we needed Kiska we could take it. The Japanese are due for a surprise if they attempt a major attack.” The officer minimised the importance of the Aleutians in the general strategy in the Pacific.

Representative Magnuson, who has returned from a visit to Alaska, said he was convinced that the American military plan was to pulverise Kiska out of commission or take it by invasion. before the winter.

Mr Magnuson, who is a member of the House of Representatives’ Naval Affairs Committee, alleged that United States bombers last June lost a chance of annihilating a Japanese surface force, including an aircraft-carrier, “because of an unfortunate failure in the army-navy co-operation.” The navy, he said, informed the army command that a Japanese task force was located within operating distance and requested the aid of land-based army planes against the Japanese. The army command, however, did not believe its orders warranted sending an air force, and consequently the Japanese escaped unscathed. Mr Magnuson adds, however, that the army and navy in Alaska are now working in the closest co-operation, and therefore “there is no possibility of this happening again.” Further details of the raids on Kiska by a United States task force on August 8 and 9 are given in a Navy communique which reveals that a fourth enemy vessel —a destroyer —was heavily damaged and left burning. A fleet of about 10 cargo ships and transports and four submarines was observed in the harbour before the bombardment by the task force, which encountered opposition from shore batteries and seaplane fighters. The American ships were not damaged and only one plane was lost. Over 3000 shells were fired at the enemy’s main camp and large fires were started. A secondary camp was also heavily bombarded, resulting in the silencing of all the batteries ashore.