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


STATES naval attack on japanese
bases in tire Marshall and Gilbert
islsris o. February ! constituted
much greater victory than first
reported
A. least IS japanese ships, in
clud.Hg one modern cruiser and
one Yawais class liner were sunk
or destroyed and others were
damaged.
More than IS enemy planes
Were demolished on the ground
or in the air,
Air bases, hangers military in.
st4llations, key shore positions
and other selected detectives
were wrecked in the brilliant sur
prise attack.
JAPS CAUGHT MAPPING
Caught mapping and dealt a
heavy blow. the japanese in des-
peration staged two frantic but
Intellectual bombing plane attacks
after the United States forces
withdrew.
The attack was executed by
units Of the United States Pacific
feet based al Hawaii under COM
mand Of Admiral Chester w.
Nimitz. All combat types. sup
ported by aircraft based on an
aircraft carrier. participated
In the Marshall group, bases on
the islands Of kwaialein. Vote
Maloelap. Jsluit and Mill were
raided Maxim in the Gilbert
Islands also was hit in this one
Simultaneous, grand-scale CO.
ordinsted smash.
Significantly, the fleet was out
more than 20 days before attack
ing. and this was long enough 10
have enabled II 70 reach Toxic.
The region attacked is 1000 air
miles southwest OF Pearl Harbor
in the direction Of the great
Dutch East Indies war theater.
The area Of those japanese
mandates is 400 miles by $50 and
encompasses 100000 square miles.
RICH SHIP TARGETS HIT
The fleet threw It's main air
effort initially al kwajalein be-
cause il is in an interior position.
Valuable ship targets were found
there and 20 japanese vessels
were terrifically bombarded.
Those sunk or totally destroyed
included one modern cruiser, two
submarines, one Yawata class liner
(16.5 tonS. three fleet oilers
and one cargo vessel. Several
others were damaged TO An un-
determined degree
Our ships scored % direct large
bomb hits. Al Rio. located on the
northern tip Of Kwaialein. an air
base was heavily bombed and its
hangers DESTROYED. One hangar
blew up mysteriously.
A modern village OF considerable
size, apparently headquarters for
the military personnel. was
bombed and destruction was con-
siderable All military installations
and all hangers were destroyed
and shore batteries silenced.
HANGARs. RADIO sTRAFED
simultaneously at the island OF
Wolfe. American fiers strafed
hangers. a radio tower and shore
facilities, including boats The war
ships then moved in and shelled
nine japanese vessels anchored in
the lagoon. When the smoke had
cleared. only two were visible and
both were heavily damaged
Al Taroa in the Maleplap Atoll
our feet found a large number OF
multi-engined bombers and a
squadron Of fighting planes on a
modern and well-developed Air
base. One flight leader estimated
the number AZ AZ They were
bombed and So were destroyed
When the battle ended. seven
enemy planes were still function
ing. They attempted reprlsals but
got nowhere. The United States
forces completely destroyed two
hangers. the administration build
ing and the radio station, while
the air field was torn up.
ISLANDS CAPITAL BLASTED
Jaluit, capital Of the mandatec
islands. was simultaneously at
tackled The administration build
ing. storehouses and the rad,
station were bombed and strsfeC
by our planes y is assumed TIA
damage was severe.
In the attack on Mill Island
also in the Marshall group N
surface craft or shore facilitie
we're observed On one island q
the Atoll a swatch freshly GU
through a coconut palm grove in
dicated possible plans 10 build
landing field. There was no othe
indication Of previous activity.
Our avistors dropped bombs
while another attacking uni
pounced on Maxim Island in IN
Gilbert group Maxim had bee
occupied by the japanese sine
December 7.
The detectives found were On
auxiliary and two tour-englne'
patrol bombers a. anchor GU
dive-bombers made several hits q
the auxiliary and set the Nesse
afre.
When last seen she was in
sinking condition. 3 9th four
engined bomberS were deStroye
during the strafing.
M SuTp RONBARDMENT