ALMOST WED OUT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 September 1943, Page 3

ALMOST WED OUT

JAPANESE BASE ON MARCOS ISLAND 80 PER CENT OF INSTALLATIONS DESTROYED. DAMAGING AMERICAN ATTACK. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) PEARL HARBOUR, September 8. The American task force which attacked Marcus Island, the Japanese base in the Pacific, on September 1, destroyed 80 per cent of the military installations on the island, said the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleets, Admiral Nimitz, in a communique. The United States losses were two fighters and one torpedo-plane. The force, which was under the command of Rear-Admiral Charles Pownall, attacked at dawn. The first wave of the attack apparently caught the enemy completely by surprise. Some flak was encountered by the initial wave, but it was eliminated by succeeding attacks, several of which were made during the day. Fires were started all over the island, and they were still burning on the- following day. Enemy planes did not leave the ground. United States fighters destroyed seven twin-motored bombers parked on a runway, and also destroyed installations, including hangars, fuel, and ammunition stores, shops, and living quarters? An enemy trawler was sunk near the island.