Milford chronicle., 1943-04-30
A WEEK OF THE WAR


The barbarOus execution by tn
Japanese of some of the eight Am
erican aviatOrs captured aftel
Major General James H. Doolittle'!
raid on Tokyo ON April Is. 1912
brought expressions of deepes
horror from high United States off.
cials. Our State Department, in a
vigorous protest, warned the Jap
anese that officers of that govern
ment who were responsible for this
saveage cruelty would be held full
ly responsible and would get the
punishment they deserve. Discov-
cry of this latest inhumane action
by the Japanese followed closely
the announcement that the aircraft
carrier Hornet" since lost, was
the "Shrangri-la" from which the
planes took off to bomb Tokyo. All
but one of the bombers in that raid
made crash or forced landings, but
GA of the so men participating were
saved! 1t was indicated that all of
the eight men captured by the
Japanese were tortured and those
not executed have been sentenced
to prison.
Air raids by L. S. Forces on
Kiska. the Aluetian base which the
Japs are frantically attempting to
prepare for further attacks on Am
erican territory. increased in in
tensity last week. In one day. fif-
teen raids left great fires burning
on the Jap air base nearing COM
pletion.
Allied fiers in the Southwest
Pacific from April II to Is had de-
strOyed or damaged 120 Japanese
planes, 10 ships. including nine
warships, and probably damaged u
more boats. Raids in the Solomons
continued. unabated as Donald NJ.
chairman of WPB said that
airplane production in the L. S.
would probably reach 1000 for the
month of April. and would continue
% increase until there were ample
planes for all war purposes. d
TuniSia J
One of the greatest air battles \
n history was won by allied fight I
IFS near Cape Bon. Tunisia, when j
hey shot down "A Axis planes and I
lamaged 30 more. Junkers-52 trans \
'orts accounted for SIS of the planes S
rought down. The total of Axis {
lanes destroyed during one day y
'as SO, and in three days 142. Only Z
leven Allied planes were lost to 4
he Axis 96. d
The British Eighth Army contin- |
ed its two-pronged drive against !,
defenses. which are II
nown to include strongly fol titled il
ositions farther back in the hills. U
he British repulsed a number of v
espeTate counterattacks and fer Il
ed the enemy to meet them at two "
Oints. Takrouma, Djebel Garci, Vi
nd Enfidaville were captured NJ
United Nations now hold COM NJ
lete air mastery over the enemy @,
the Northwest Africa theater of gt
ar. according to Liert. General II
arl A. Spaatz. Since March 20,
hen the battle of the Mareth line ~
sgan, $40 Axis planes have been r,
lot down by Allied fiiers, and an Fl
her 1000 Axis planes have been
stroyed or damaged on the Ia
'ound. This activity has cost the n;, e
lies only 175 planes and they nave mn
tanned the offensive consistently. an
England it was acknowledged tel
at the Allies have air superior VI
7, though not domination in the ri
estern war theater, but it was w
lieved that the Nazis were build MI
g up their fighter strength to pro- vi
ct Germany proper. d,
Russia VIC
The Soviets reported the de- Ht
ruction of 902 Axis planes in one
eek and admitted the loss of 1O3 d, d,
their own aircraft. German at w,
npts to halt the Russians in the
lban area of the Western Caucas- wa
were unsuccessful; the attack
) left 1,40O dead in counter-at- int
,ks on one hill. An unexpected Nh
ltement from. England said that tul
; British Government had receiv- IN,
numerous reports that the Nazis Mr.
re getting ready to use poison
S against the Russians. Britain ga dsa!
,eated her promise to retaliate ~, en
and fully against Ger Or,
ny herself if poison gas we're
ID anywhere by the Germans. me