OPENING BLOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 September 1943, Page 3

OPENING BLOW

IN REAL OFFENSIVE IN PACIFIC NAVAL & AIR ATTACK ON MARCUS ISLANt?. OPINION AT PEARL HARBOUR. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, September 2. Pearl Harbour observers express the opinion thaip the attack on Marcus Island'signified the opening phase of the long-awaited real offensive in the Pacific, says the “New York Times.” There are indications that further blows inside Japan’s defensive perimeter may be expected. The destruction of' the Marcus Island establishment would deprive Japan of an important air base, which has served the dual purpose of a relay point to the Marshalls and a defensive airfield less than 1000 miles from Tokio. It is recalled that Marcus Island was attacked on March 4, 1942, by carrierbased aircraft, but yesterday’s announcement of both shelling and bombing operations shows that the Pacific Fleet now intends to remove Marcus Island permanently as a Japanese base, whereas last year’s operations were merely harassing. So far there is no indication of the size of the attacking forces, or from where they struck, but it is believed that an Allied naval concentration of considerable power is at sea.