FURTHER PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1943, Page 4

FURTHER PROGRESS

MABE BY THE AMERICANS ON ATTU FOOTHOLD GAINED ON KEY RIDGE. KISKA HEAVILY BOMBED. LONDON, May 27. American troops in the Aleutians, after two clays of hard fighting on Attn, have secured a foothold on a key ridge. This ridge was constantly bombarded by naval gnus on Tuesday and Wednesday. The bombardment destroyed enemy buildings in the area. The navy was supported by Liberators and Mitchell bombers.

Kiska Island has again been heavily bombed by American aircraft, which scored hits on gun emplacements and other installations. LOSSES OF AMERICANS ATTACK BEING DRIVEN HOME. SEA, AIR & LAND FORCES CO-OPERATING. (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON. May 27. The United States Secretary for War (Mr Stimson), stated in ‘Washington that American casualties on Attu Island to date had been comparatively light, with 127 killed. 39 wounded and 118 missing. “We have reason to believe," Mr Stimson added, that Japanese losses on the island have been much heavier than ours.” The Americans, aided by clearing weather, are steadily destroying pockets of Japanese resistance. The enemy has been cleared from the Sarana Bay region. The Americans hold both sides of Chicago! Bay and' are attacking along a ridge dominating the remaining Japanese positions. Fighting is mostly between small patrols, using bayonets and hand grenades The United States Navy Department states that United States naval vessels bombarded Japanese shore installations in the Chicago! area of Attu. Numerous fires were started. The Japanese main camp at Kiska and other installations were bombed from the air. All buildings in the Chicagof area have been destroyed.

American troops, after hard fighting, co-ordinated in an attack along a ridge south of the Chichagof corridor and succeeded in gaining a foothold on high ground south of Chichagof. The right flanje of the American southern force is opposed by a Japanese force dug in on a mountain ridge south of Lake Cories.