Evening star., 1942-10-07
Aloskun Front

Alaskan Front
Current Navy communicates indi-
cate that the long awaited offensive
against the Japanese-held outer
Aleutian Islands is under way. The
main Japanese base on Kiska Island
with its excellent harbor is under
continual fire" by American bomb
ers protected by fighter planes. This
virtual shuttle service has been made
possible by our recent establishment
of air fields in the Andreanof Islands,
the segment of the great Aleutian
chain which lies midway between
our main base at Dutch Harbor near
the Alaskan mainland and the outer
islands of Kiska, Attu and Agattu,
which the Japanese seized some
months ago.
At that time there was consider
able apprehension that the invaders
might advance along the unfortified
and almost uninhabited island chain
as preliminary steps toward an in
vasion Of Alaska itself. That they
did not do so can be ascribed in part
to the Furnishing raids of our long
distance bombers from Dutch Harbor
and to the harassing work of our
submarines. This handicapped the
japanese in maintaining their long
supply line across the Northern Pa
cific, hindered their development of
the conquered bases and took
heavy toll of Japanese naval and
merchant shipping in those waters.
Nevertheless, those early opera
tions Of ours we're essentially de-
fensive in character. There was no
indication that we had passed to the
offensive until our occupation of the
Andreanof Islands, which lie only
some 200 miles from Kiska, the Jap
anese main base. That brought
Kiska within easy range of our
fighter planes the indispensable
prelude to our reconquest of the
outer Aleutians. From now on, those
Japanese islands can be sub
jected to a continuous "softening-
up" process which will render their
capture feasible by an American fleet
of transports shielded bv an aerial
umbrella"
The Japanese have undoubtedly
done their best to fortify the islands.
1t is estimated that, on Kiska alone,
there are some 10000 troops. How
ever, those large garrisons have to be
supplied, and recent aerial recon-
naissance indicates few Japanese
naval or commercial craft in the
vicinity. Indeed, the very fact that
our occupation of the Andreanof Is
lands was unopposed tends to show
that Japanese striking power in the
outer Aleutians is not great and that
they are on the defensive there.
This, in turn, arises in great part
from the heavy toll of japanese
shipping previously exacted by our
planes and submarines. Shipping is
something that Japan cannot afford
to lose.
How strongly Japan will defend its
Aleutian holdings depends in large
measure upon its grand strategy.
Many military students have be-
lieved that, when Japan seized those
islands, its immediate aim was not
an invasion of Alaska but block to
American efforts to aid the Russians
during a Japanese invasion of ST.
IBERIA. Whatever may have been
Tokio's intentions toward Russia
last spring, stroke at Siberia today
appears to be unlikely. This might
disincline Toxic to pay too stiff q
price for holding the outer Aleutians
In face Of major American attack.
Yet, even If Russia remains out of
the Pacific war, an American reoccu-
patton Of the outer Aleutians would
be a heavy strategic blow to Japan
as we'll as considerable loss of
face" From Attu, the westernmost
Of the Aleutian Island chain, it is
only 765 miles to Paramushiro, the
great japanese base at the northern
tip Of the Kurile Island chain which
reaches up from Japan itself much
as the Aleutians thrust westward
from Alaska. Indeed, Attu is nearer
Paramushiro than it is to Dutch Har-
Dor. That would bring American
forces uncomfortably close to ia
pans lifeline. So We may expect .
stiff Tight before We have regained
our Aleutian spearhead from the
japanese grip.
How about some nice new three
cent stamps bearing the legend. "For