Evening star., 1943-05-29
Circle Around
Foe Narrowed
ByU. ). Forces
American Troops Scale
60-Degree Hills to
Reach Positions
Earlier Story on Page A-1.)
Ey the Associated Presx

Earlier Story on Page A-1.)
BY the Associated Press.
American troops have cap
tured Fish Hook Ridge, impor-
tant japanese stronghold on
Attu Island, the Navy reported
today, and the main enemy force
on the island Is now contained
in a mountainous area of only 3
to 4 square miles.
The conquest of Fish-Hoo Ridge,
f1anking the main remaining jap
anese-held area, was described by
officers here as contributing to the
security of American lines stretch
ing northward along the base Of
the northeastern peninsula on Attu
into the Chichagof Harbor area.
A Navy communique said the
japanese positions on Fish Hook
Ridge were entrenched above the
cloud line and American soldiers
had to scale 60-degree ridges in the
face Of strong enemy fire to reach
them.
Text of Communique.
The communique said:
North Pacific:
Il. On May q, on Attu Island,
United States Army troops. captur-
ing the strong Japanese position in
Fish-Hook Ridge, previously report
ed as neutralized, fought over rug
ged and snowy terrain and scaled so
degree ridges in the face of enemy
fire. The japanese positions we're
entrenched above the cloud line.
80. On May 28th:
"(A) The strong point Of Jap
anese defense is centered in the
area formed between the north wall
of Chichagof Valley, Holtz Bay pass
and Chichagof harbor.
"(B) There is little japanese ac-
tivity in the Khlebnikof area ex-
cept for one enemy position on the
ridge east of the north end of Lake
Cories. Other parts of the island
are devoid of enemy activity.
"(C) Air operations were ham
pered by bad weather.
Munda Is Bombed.
South Pacific Gall dates east
longitude).
"3. On May 28th: A force OF
Avengers (Grumman TBF) torpedo
bombers flew in bad weather to
bomb Munda, on New Georgia Is
land in the Central Solomons. Hits
were scored on the runway. Explo-
sions were observed and fires were
| started"
Disclosure that the present main
Japanese position on Attu is north
OF Chichagof Valley. which extends
southwest from Chichagof harbor,
was the first intimation the jap
anese had relatively small forces In
that sector.
Fighting this week has been in the
Chichagof Valley area and south
ward to the vicinity of Lake Cories,
including Fish Hook Ridge.
Increases in Importance.
The increased Importance OF the
Chichagof- -Holtz Bay position was
said to have resulted from either one
or a combination of two things:
/. 1t is simply the strongest point
| tChAoAlilS W Vic JdpdIleSe, iii Ile
other strong points having been
slashed to pieces with American ar
tillery fire, aerial bombing. naval
shellflre and bayonet fighting.
2. The japanese have managed
to pull some of their troops from
the other places which they have
lost into the mountainous area in
line with their strategy of fighting
a delaying action as long as possible.
According to the latter theory they
would constantly sacrifice rear guard
positions to advancing American
forces until finally their forces be-
came so badly cut up that there
simply was no distinction any more
between their main bodies and their
rear guards. Apparently the battle
has about reached that stage now.