Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-18
Midway Victory
Seen asChe(k TO
Japs AIeutidns

| NO. W - N'W'o'y 'os's
in Islands Attacked Since
Second Day Of Battle
WASHINGTON. July Is (UP).
= Military observers suggested
today that Americas smashing
victory in the battle OF Midway
may have forced Japans war
lords TO order halt in their
offensive in the fog-shrouded
Aleutians.
They pointed out that no United
States military installations In the
long chain of islands stretching
westward from Alaska have been
ATTACKED since June 4-the second
day of the gigantic battle OF Mid
way in which co-ordinated army.
navy and marine air power scored
one of the greatest sea victories
of all times.
This suggests. they said, that
Japan's entire offensive strategy
may have been thrown out of
killer"
WARN OF OPTIMISM
But they warned against un-
justified optimism, offering four
alternative explanations OF the lull
in Aleutian operations:
THAT Japan wanted the
three westernmost islands she
now occupies-undefen Attu.
Kiska and Agattu-as a pivot
for offensive operations against
Russia, or TO protect her own
flank against possible Russian
attack.
2-That the initial attack on
Dutch Harbor on June 3 was
launched TO distract American
attention from Midway, perhaps
hoping TO divert strength from
that vital Pacific outpost.
3-That Jspan's operations
are largely "face-saving," in
tended TO appease the japanese
people for the American air
raid on Toxic and other major
cities on the Japanese mainland
THAT unexpected strength
displayed by United States
Army and Navy attachments
in the Dutch Harbor area has
only temporarily stalled further
japanese penetration.
OPERATIONS COSTLY
Whatever the expla on.
Japan's operations there have been
costly. and the navy promises that
operations against the enemy IN
this area continue"
A communique yesterday sum-
married all operations 10 date. IL
listed three enemy destroyers and
one transport damaged, and lat
least" seven enemy aircraft de-
stroyed.
Previously, Lieut.. Gen. Henry
n. Arnold. chief OF the army air
forces. had reported one Japanese
cruiser sunk and an enemy air
craft carrier damaged by army
fliers in the Aleutians.
Yesterdays communique also
mentioned Jap cruiser bombed
with undetermined results" and
reported that enemy carriers
which approached Dutch Harbor
on June 3. three transports in a
task force which approached
Agattu, July 2. and several other
enemy vessels had been attacked,
with undetermined results.
To date United States losses
have been "a number" of aircraft.
and the old 3,094-ton station ship
Northwestern, which was de-
stroyed during the second. and
last, attack on Dutch Harbor on
June q. This attack had not been
revealed officially until yesterday.
The only other accomplishments
of the enemy include "minor"
damage TO the naval station at
Dutch Harbor and the army post
at nearby Fort Mears.
The communique reported 81
casualties in the two raids on
Dutch Harbor-44 military person
mel killed and 49 wounded, one
civilian employe killed. No men,
ton was made of possible casual
ties sustained during occupation
OF the three islands.
AXIS CLAIM IGNORED
Observers thought IL significant
that the communique made no
mention OF a claim broadcast in
German over the Berlin radio on
July 10 that a large japanese
troop convoy had landed in the
Aleutians. There has been no Of
fetal comment on the report. but
the navy described its communi-
que as resume OF operations in
the Aleutian Islands TO date" in
dicating the claim was unfounded.
The communique emphasized
Throughout that United States
forces were and are prepared for
any japanese moves. and that the
enemy occupation elements are
being harassed constantly. Army
planes dropped SO bombs on Kiska
on July s. il reported.