Evening star., 1942-07-17
AIeutiuns
Continued From First Page.

ago by 1t. Gen, Henry H. Arnold
of the Army Air Forces that an air
craft carrier had been damaged and
a cruiser sunk.
Counting both the Navy and Army
reports. the toll Of Japanese ships
in the area now stands at nine dam
aged, one believed sunk and five
sunk.
In all the Aleutian actions, the
official account stressed shore de-
fenses were ready for action and in
the case of the initial Dutch Harbor-
Fort Mears raid ship and shore anti
aircraft batteries opened S min
utes before the first bomb was
dropped"
The Navy said that "since June 4
there have been no further attacks
on Dutch Harbor, Fort Mears, Fort
Glenn or any other United States
military installations in Alaska or
the Aleutian Islands,
Areas occupied by the enemy to
date are all undefended and consist
of Kiska, 585 nautical miles west Of
Dutch Harbor, Attu, 1853 miles west
of Dutch Harbor and Agattu, lying
roughly between Kiska and Attu
and quite near to the latter.
Text Of Ccmmunique.
The tert OF the Napy Depart
ment's con1nunique, No. SO, tolloUs
l. In early June, japanese naval
forces made a two-pronged thrust
at our westernmost possessions, Mid
way and the Aleutian chain. The
presence in each attacking force OF
troop transports indicated that these
attacks were aimed at capture and
occupation. The thrust at Midway
was made by approximately 80 ships,
including four carriers, at least three
battleships, and a large number OF
cruisers, destroyers and transports.
A simultaneous thrust was made
on the Aleutians employing a far
smaller force of approximately two
small carriers, two seaplane tenders.
several cruisers and destroyers and
from four to six transports. The size
of the forces involved shows the at
tack on Midway to have been the
primary objective.
2. The attack on Midway was re-
PEELED as described in Navy De-
partment communique No. g. A
resume of operations in the Aleutian
Islands to date is given in the fol-
lowing paragraphs. ~"
J. 3. The first attack on Dutch Har-
Dor and Fort Mears was made at
ABOUT 6 am on June 3, concurrently
with the early stages Of the Japanese
attack on Midway. Five waves Of
three planes each. launched from
carriers to the southwark of Dutch
Harbor, participated in the 20-min-
ute attack, which was concentrated
on Dutch Harbor and the nearby
Army station at Fort Mears.
Gun Crews Ready.
1. Three United States destroy
ers, an Army transport. q mine
sweeper and a Coast Guard cuttel
were in the harbor. as well as an ole
station ship. the Northwestern
which had been beached and wa!
used as barracks for contractors
personnel. The attack was not un.
expected, and anti-aircraft crews
who were at their battle stations
both aboard the ships and at th'
shore batteries. opened fire five min
utes before the first bomb wa
dropped. To obtain maneuverabilit.
the ships present got under way
continuing their anti-aircraft fire.
No ship was hit during the raid
Two of the attacking aircraft wer
shot down.
5. A few barracks and ware
houses at Fort Mears and Dutcl
Harbor were bombed and set AFR
and Navy patrol plane which wa
about to take of with of1lcial maj
was strafed.
6. On June 4 Army bombers an,
Navy patrol planes located and at
tackled the enemy carriers which
had launched the attacking plane
Several bomb and torpedo attack
we're made but results could not b
observed.
7. One enemy plane was she
down during the several reconnai.
sance flights which the Japanes
made over the Dutch Harbor are
following the initial raid.
Two Planes Shot Down.
8. About 5 pm, on June 4,
carrier based bombers and l6 flgh
ers attacked the installations ,
Dutch Harbor and Fort Near
This attack was made sinu
taneously with an attack on tt
Army post at Fort Glenn, abo,