Evening star., 1942-03-04
Japanese Advance FartherinJava
Against Heavy Dutch Air Blows;
MArthur's Planes Sink 2 Biz Ships
Is Of 18 Enemy
Bombers Downed
By Navy Force
By the Associated Press.

More than $4,000 tons OF enemy
ships have been destroyed in a
spectacular raid by Gen. Douglas
MacArthur's small air force, and
a task force of the Navy has
blasted 16 heavy japanese bomb
ers out of the sky in a deep pene-
tration OF japanese inundated
islands.
The double triumphs, while hardly
major in character, served to show
again the amazing reSourcefulness
of Gen. MacArthur,s little force in
the Philippines, and to indicate
progress in the Navy's announced
plan to carry the fight to the enemy.
One 10,000-ton ship, one 5000
tonner and two motor launches we're
destroyed in a surprise attack by
Gen. MacArthur's airmen over
Subic Bay, north of Bataan, the
War Department announced in the
morning communique. In addition,
large fires were started among
enemy stores on docks of Olangapo
and Grande Island, followed by ex-
ploSions. Many small craft useful
to the invaders were damaged
Surprised japanese Forces.
Taking advantage of an apparent
lack of alertness by the japanese
during the lull in fighting on the Ba-
taan front. the small American air
force caused wide destruction in its
foray over Subic Bay which is on the
China Sea coast of Luzon.
The surprise air attack was the
second unexpected move against the
Japanese forces that have been
stalled in Luzon for more than a
month. A week ago Gen. Mac
Arthur's infantry forces made
thrusts all along the line which drove
the japanese forward positions back
from one to five miles and recovered
former positions held by the Amer
ican and Filipino defenders.
Olongapo is one of the strongest
japanese bases of the occupied
areas of the Philippines.
II has been understood generally
that Gen, MacArthur's air force con-
slsts only of a few pursuit planes.
They are believed to be based on
nearby COrregidor Island, il was ex-
planned. and so needed only a light
load OF gasoline to make the short
flight to Olongapo and back.
Carried Full Bomb Load.
AS result. it was disclosed. each
of the American planes was able to
carry a full load of 2OO-pound ex-
ploSlve bombs and thermite lncendi-
ary bombs to drop on the enemy. A
large supply of these bombs are kept
mandy at Corregidor and other
fortreSses guarding Manila Bay.
Another factor which contributed
TO the success of the surprise raid,
SpokeSmen said, was the withdrawal
OF most of the japanese bombers
and fighter planes to reinforce their
hard-preSsed air squadrons in the
Netherlands Indies.
The large ships destroyed in the
Sublc Bay attack were supply YES
sells lying at anchor in the bay.
Had Double Significance.
The engagement in the Pacific in
which Is Japanese bombers were
shot down had a double significance.
First: Prohibitive loses had been
inflicted on the enemy-only two of
18 attacking bombers escaped-a
fact which spoke volumes for the
effectiveness of the fleets anti-air-
craft gunnery and its borne
fighting planes. The bombers failed
to score hit and only two Ameri-
can planes were lost.
Second: Fleet task forces were
ranging farther westward, evidently
close to the well-fortified japanese
Caroline Islands, where lie such i'm
portant enemy bases as Ponape,
Truk, Yap and Pelew.
Action Moves Westward.
The Navy communique last night
did not indicate how deeply the
force penetrated this general area
of the Pacific. 1t said merely that
the action had taken place west of
the Gilbert Islands-the Japanese
held British owned islands which
were raided and damaged on Janu-
airy 81. The Carolines are west and
slightly north of the Gilberts.
1t was apparent, however. that
(See PACIFIC, Page A-5D