Evening star., 1942-10-19
Alaska Command Tells
OF Probable Sinkinq
OH Jap Destroyers
Bombers Continue Assault
On Kisku, Enemy's Lost
FoothoId in AIeutiuns
By the Associated Press.
IS. ALASKA

By the Associated Press.
HEADQUARTERS, ALASKA
DEFENSE COMMAND, Oct. 10.
Continuing their assault on
Kiska, Japan's last foothold In
the Aleutians, American flyers
yesterday reported the probable
destruction of two japanese
destroyers a few miles west of
that island.
Shortly before, other flyers, re-
turning from reconnaissance flights,
disclosed the japanese are reinforc-
ing their Kiska garrison, building
new installations on the south side
of the island at Gertrude Cove.
Some of the reinforcements, it is
believed, came from other Aleutian
Islands which frequent American
bombings have made untenable.
~ The aerial attack on the war
ships October 16 was conducted by
five of the United States B-26
Marauders. It left the destroyers
smoking and their crews splashing
about in the cold waters Of the
North Pacific.
tThe Navy announced in
Washington Saturday that Army
B-26 bombers had scored at
least one direct hit on a cargo
ship at Kiska and left it aflre.
The same communique an
nounced the Marauders also at
tackled two Japanese destroyers
northeast of Kiska, scoring three
hits on one and one hit on the
other. The Navy said the de-
stroyer, hit three times, prob
ably sank)
The defense command report said
the first destroyer was struck with
at least five bombs loosed from al
most deck level. The second de-
stroyer took at least four hits.
The flyers faced heavy anti
aircraft fire as they pressed their
attack for As minutes and when
they left they said the decks OF both
ships were Uttered with large
craters.
They saw the crew of the first
destroyer go overheard after a series
OF explosions, one of which, just
behind the stack, was especially
heavy.
The f1oundering Japanese sailors
were seen strung out in the water
in the wake of the wreckage. Some
of the crew of the second ship also
were observed in the water as the
attacking planes turned homeward.
Smoke belched from both ships
and more explosions were heard,
this time from the second destroyer,
which was lying dead in the water.
1t appeared to have been fired In
the stern.
Bombed at Low Altitude.
Capt. Warren A. Beth of Pre-
mont, Mich, led the bombers into
the battle and had his men flying
so low they had to pull up to clear
the masts of their victims.
Shortly after Capt. Richards
Saltes of Elmhouse, Tex, had scored
hits on one destroyer, a heavy ex-
plosion, apparently just behind the
stack, was heard. Other explosions
followed on both ships and black
smoke curled into the sky.
The possibility exists that some
of the japanese troops may have
been brought from other Aleutian
islands which the invaders found
inhospitable or unfit for bases.
(The Army disclosed last week
that the Japanese apparently had
abandoned the bases they estab-
lished on Attu and Agattu Is
lands, remaining only at Kiska.)
Army planes already have bombed
and strafed the new shore installa-
tions, which resemble those aban-
doned at Attu.
1t was in Gertrude Cove that
B-26 bombers last Thursday hit
a Japanese medium sized cargo ship
and left it in flames.
Later fast planes went over the
cove at l00-foot altitude and noted
the new installations, separate from
the main Kiska camp.