Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-02-13

wee Admiral HAlSey was COM
mander Of the raiding forces.
ment were later subjected "a
heavy hsrizontal and dive-bomher
attacks. One American ship SuS-
tanned minor damage from a hi
by a light bomb
In the whole attack there was
superficial damage 10 one other
United States ship. Upon with
drawal OF the United States force
tho Japanese made two reprisal
bombing attacks with an Ameri-
can carrier as their objective
The navy spokesman said that
one attack made by five bombers
was driven home with such fero-
city as to indicate desperation.
The japanese delivered glide
bombing attack al high speed in
close formation, dropping abou,
20 heavy bombs in salvo. Our
combat patrols damaged one Of
the five pursuers during the
enemys approach.
TRIES SUICIDE ATTACK
The engine of the Japanese
plane caught fire. and the pilot
turned TO try and make a suicide
crash on the carriers deck. He
did succeed in striking the deck
near the edge where his plane
disintegrated and went over into
the ocean.
The carrier meanwhile had
turned a hose OF fire on the in
rushing Jap. Others on his plane
were dead on the way in and the
pilot was killed before his craft
hit the deck.
A small fire had been started
on the carrier by one earlier near
bomb miss but was quickly ex-
A second plane in this
group of pursuers was shot down
by anti-aircraft guns.
Another Jap repriSal attack
came a short time later. Two
enemy bombers made conven-
tional high altitude level bombing
attack from the sun Their-aim
was accurate but the carrier
avoided the salvo by a maneuver.
One OF the planes was hit by anti
aircraft but was not seen 10 crash.
while the other was shot down in
flames in sight OF our ships.
II q PLANES FASTER
United States fighter planes,
the spokesman said, are much
faster and more heavily gunned'
than the japanese. Not a single
American plane was lost in the
combat. while 10 OF is Japanese
planes shot down out of the Air
were fighters and the others
bomberS.
During the far-fung battle,
Japanese coastal batteries fired a
few rounds but went wide Of the
mark. All fire ceased after our
ships blanketed their positions.
Severe storms hampered the
United States unit which attacked
Jaluit. The attackers encountered
a low ceiling. heavy tropical
squalls. lightning and poor visible
ity. so il was practically impossible
10 fly over in tight formation. AS
they neared Jaluit even more Sc
we're storms broke. forcing many
fliers 10 make a landfall approach
on instruments.
ATTACK AT Low ALTITUDE
The bombing OF Jaluit was con-
Quoted at low attitudes due 10 this
severe weather. American fliers
detected in Jaluit Harbor two
auxiliary vessels of from 1000 to
10000 tons. but no other major
feet units. The only surface ships
were Sampans and small tugs.
One auxiliary vessel was hit by
heavy bombs and set afire while
the other was damaged from near
misses hut not completely de-
Stroyed. Both were strafed from
the air. while the administration
building. Storehouses and the radio
station were bombed and strafed
Eyewitnesses said that the jail
uit facilities were overratcd. The
air base and hangar were poorly
constructed, while the rlnways
were short and Of packed dirt
During the attack our force en-
countered no sirplane opposition
Japanese anti-aircraft and ma
chine gun fire was deSultory and
the aim was poor Six American
planes failed 10 return from the
Jsluit attack but this may have
been due 10 the stormy weather
There was no ship bombardment
/ At Jaluit
The United States victory is be-
lieved 10 have effectively thwartec
report plans OF the Japanese Il
expand their fortifcations in thi,
chain OF islands for some time Al
least