ABSURD CHARGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 May 1943, Page 4

ABSURD CHARGE

MADE BY JAPANESE ALLEGED USE OF POISON GAS. BY AMERICANS ON ATTU ISLAND. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, May 17. That the Americans attacking Attu Island used poison gas is a claim made in a report from Attu Island, says the Berlin radio. Tokio newspapers, it says, point out in big headlines the horror of an American use of gas and say the Japanese have not used poison gas in any way at all. A British United Press correspondent suggests that the accusation may be merely an excuse for the use of gas against the Americans, but American observers regard the claim as another step in the apparent Axis campaign to prepare listeners for the loss of the island. The official Tokio radio says a Japanese. Army spokesman said the United States was landing a steady stream.of reinforcements in Attu, under cover of air and naval bombardment. The Japanese, however, the Tokio radio adds, are holding their positions and have made a number of damaging counterattacks against tremendous numerical odds. The radio quotes Major-General Yahagi as stating that the main American attacking force in Attu Island on Wednesday landed on the south coast, moved inland, attacked Japanese positions and was driven back to the beach. On the same night a pitched battle occurred between the Japanese and another American force which had landed simultaneously on the north coast. A third American force which attempted to land on the east coast, Major-General Yahagi alleges, was annihilated.