FIERCE CONFLICT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 May 1943, Page 3

FIERCE CONFLICT

IN PROGRESS ON ATTU ISLAND AMERICANS NOT EXPECTING EASY VICTORY. MORE BLOWS AGAINST JAPAN POSSIBLE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON. The United States troops have secured a bridgehead on Japanese-held Attn Island, in Die western Aleutians, where strong forces landed early on Tuesday. Violent fighting continues, while the navy adheres to its stated intention of announcing no details till the situation has been clarified. A correspondent of the “New York Times” suggests that a landing on Japan’s present main base in the Aleutians, Kiska, may be attempted soon. He also says that strong blows against Japan in the south-west and other Pacific areas can be expected according to a co-ordinated strategic plan. However, heavy casualties are expected before the Japanese are driven from Attu. Invasion boats, in thrusting against the island of Attu, would have to traverse treacherous reefs with strong currents, the correspondent says. To gain a bridgehead the soldiers would have to cross swamps. Though fewer than 10,000 Japanese troops are reported to be based on Attu, they are entrenched behind strongly-fortified positions, aided by rock formations. Attu would give the Americans a weather station which is extremely important in the Aleutians. It is assumed in Washington that the United States commanders have thrown in sufficient forces to overcome the Japanese. Axis reports say that the Japanese are greatly outnumbered, but that furious hand-to-hand battles are in progress on the island’s bleak mountainsides. Naval experts in Washington say that an attack against Japanese in the Kurile Islands, to the north of Japan proper, is almost certain to follow a successful occupation of Attu. The important Japanese naval base of Paramushiro, at the northern tip of the Kurile, is 600 miles west of Attu and within easy bombing range. However, the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Knox, has given a warning that the occupation of Attu will be “tougher than Gaudalcanal.” The Berlin radio said that the American invasion forces landed under cover of a dense fog after warships and bombers had pounded the island. The Americans, claimed the radio, are rushing reinforcements and supplies to Attu, while their naval task forces have blockaded the island to prevent assistance reaching the Japanese.