Evening star., 1942-02-02
u. S. Fleet Attack
Hints FuII-ScuIe
Pacific Offensive
MAP on Page A-4.)
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
A slashing sea and air attack
by the United States on the mid
Pacific flank of Japan's broad
op-skip- Jump offensive raised
today the probability of a full
fledged American offensive in the
enemy's vulnerable island man
dates timed to ease the siege of
Singapore and check the pres
sure on the Netherlands Indies
and Australia.
BY the attack on japanese bases
in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands
the Pacific Fleet was believed to
have recovered a considerable meas
ure of the striking power lost at
Pearl Harbor December 7.
1t was, so far as has been reported,
the first time American bombs have
fallen on Japanese territory.
Amid fierce fighting United States
surface and aircraft sank or severely
damaged many enemy fleet, auxil-
iaries, Shelled and bombed vital shore
installations and destroyed numer-
GUS enemy planes-all at a cost of
II American aircraft missing, two
surface vessels slightly damaged and
personnel losses which were officially
estimated to have been light.
No Big Enemy Combat Ships Found.
The only disappointment for the
American forces was indicated in the
Navy's statement yesterday that Ad-
miral Chester w. Nimitz, commander
of the Pacific Fleet, had reported
that mo large enemy combatant
vessels were found"
How much the Pacific Fleet must
step up its flank attacks to ease the
imminent threats to Singapore. Java
and Australia was a major question
in secret Pacific strategy. but all
signs were that the attempt was
probable.
The official japanese account of
the Gilbert t-Marshall attack said
United States aircraft carriers,
cruisers and destroyers made up the
raiding force and claimed that II
American planes were shot down
The japanese belittled the re-
suits Of the attack. declaring the
only damage suffered was to a small
japanese auxiliary vessel, and
claimed the firing of a United
States cruiser and damage to other
ships. Washington admitted minor
damage to only two American ships
from near misses of japanese
bombers.
Fierce Aerial Fighting.
The Navy communique reflected
fierce aerial fighting over the Pacific
islands, the japanese apparently
putting up a sitter defense with
pursuit planes and anti-aircraft
guns than they did with warships
or coastal batteries. This seemed
to be indicated by a statement in
the communique that many enemy
airplanes were destroyed both on
the ground and in the air. and by
the fact that the only damage to
the attacking units was caused by
aerial bombs
The loss of II American aircraft
also bespoke severe fighting aloft.
1t was believed to be the heaviest
loss suffered by United States Air
Forces in a single engagement to
date, but If the ratio of Japanese
losses to American losses which has
prevailed in previous air fights was
maintained, the Japanese suffered
vastly heavier blow.
The types Of vessels sunk were not
identified except by the broad terH
"auxiliaries." The United States
Navy includes in its classification of
auxiharies such vessels as destroyer,
submarine and aircraft tenders, re-
pair ships, storeships, colliers and
tankers, ammunition ships and
cargo and transport vessels.
Bases Are Listed.
The japanese bases which were
attacked were on the Islands of
Jaluit, Wolfe, Kwajaleim, Roi and
Taroa, in the Marshall group, and
the Maxim Island in the Gilbert
group. Japan obtained the Mar
shalls under a League of Nations
mandate in 1920. They formerly
belonged to Germany. Among them,
the principal Japanese fortification
is on Wolfe, 1000 air miles south
west of Pearl Harbor and 635 miles
south Of Wake Island.
The Gilbert Islands lie south and
slightly west of the Marshall group.
They belong to Great Britain. but
Maxim, the northernmost, was oc-
cupied by the Japanese December 7.
The bases the Japanese estab-
lished on these various islands flank
the main American supply routes