The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-02-02
United States Carves
Two Notches On Guns
CONTINUED from Page -

4 HeaGIong tnruStS were mace on the
west coast, aimed at what the enemy
mistakenly thought TO be our flank
and rear.
picked groups known as Tatori
executed simultaneous attacks al
several points along the west coast
lire, like the fingers CT a c.awirg
hand. Captured aerial m2pe showed
the japanese plan and the urgent
character OF the mission. There was
savage fighting in the underbrush
Our infantry, supported by artillery
and mortar fire, forced the invad-
ers back TO the coast. Those who
attempted fight by sea were
drowned.
THE others were destroyed or
captured.
In the east sector, the Japanese
65th division attempted frontal at
tack and an development in the
Pillar area. The frontal attack was
made by the 142nd Japanese in
fantry A simultaneous attempt at
development was made by the Jap
anese 141st and l22nd regiments of
infantry The frontal attack was
stopped by our artillery fire before
it got well under way. The envel-
opment was repulsed with heavy
losses to the Japanese.
with reference to the fighting
on the west coast, General Mac
| Arthur said
"All enemy thrust on the west
Ind Oh -. =,
mastered The enemy troops en-
ployed il this desperate venture
were his best. They were shock
troops especially trained and Sc
lected. They have now been entire
ly destroyed. They resisted with the
courage which is characteristic Of
japanese troops but at the end were
glad to surrender. They are be-
ing treated with the respect and
consideration which their gallantry
SO we'll merits
y. There is nothing to report
from other areas"
Statement of Admiral
Honolulu, Feb. 2 - tU.P) - Adj
miral Chester w. Nimitz, COM
mander III chief of the Pacific Fleet.
said in statement today that Uni
ted States Warships of all combat
types took part in the navy's attack
on the Marshall and Gilbert Island
and did extensive damage with
slight losses to themselves.
Attacking under a pre-arranged
plan to blast important japanese
bases and ships, the fleet carried
out its big scale operation success
fully, Nimitz said.
Il am greatly pleased with the
performance of both officers and
men of all units concerned" he said,
land particularly with the vigorous
action of commanders in pushing
their attacks home
Nimitz regretted that he could not
at the moment disclose further de-
tails of the attack.
First news Of the outstanding sue
cess of the first major offensive ac-
ton by the United States Pacific
fleet reached Honolulans from
Washington.
Within few minutes it had
spread through the island and tele-
phone calls poured in on newspapers
and the United Press Bureau for
hours as jubilant service families
and civilians sought details.
Since the tragic morning nearly
two months ago when the japanese
made their sneak attack on Hawaii
Islanders had been waiting for news
of the first American retort, and
there Is rejoicing throughout the
islands.
Gleeful Honolulans, excitedly dis
cussing the brief retort of the first
offensive blow in force, asked each
other:
Il wonder how the BIS like
it?"
Well informed quarters said that
the immense strategic Importance
of the detectives attacked was OBJ
vious.
In the Marshalls and Gilberts the
Japanese had been almost unim-
peded in positions from which they
could effectively harry allied sea
traffic across the Pacific.