Evening star., 1943-04-23
Isles Located
On Supply Line
Australia
Knox Reveals Base
Has Been Established
For Some Time
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.

BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.
American occupation of posi-
tions In the Ellice Island group,
about 500 miles southeast of the
Gilberts, was disclosed this aft
ernoon in a naval communique
announcing japanese bombing
raid on the United States install
lations on Funafuti Island, larg-
est of the Ellice group.
Light casualties to personnel and
minor damage was inflicted in. the
raid yesterday, the Navy said.
The Ellice Islands are about / 100
miles east of the Solomons and lie
on supply lines to the South Pacific
and Australia. The group includes
nine atols. The last mention of
fighting in this area was on October
"a, when the Navy disclosed that an
American force attacked there,
sank two small enemy patrol yes
sells by gunfire and damaged one
enemy destroyer and a merchant
ship.
The Navy maintained strict silence
as to the time of the Ellice occupa-
ton or the nature and kind of forces
which were placed there. However,
naval spokesman said that the
occupation was unopposed.
Secretary of the Navy Knox, dis
cussing the occupation of Funafuti
at his press conference this after
noon, revealed that the Navy has
established a base there and that
the occupation occurred some time
ago. He would give no details on
when the island was occupied, or
what forces were used.
Won't Describe Base.
Secretary Knox would make no
comment on the size of the base.
on the ground that it was inadvis-
able to give the Japanese any infor-
nation they could not gain from
observation.
He claimed he did not know
whether japanese were on the island
when the United States forces occu-
pied 1t, nor would he say whether
any other islands in the Ellice group
were occupied.
Former British Mandate.
The Ellice Islands are about 500
miles from Nauru, which was bombed
by the American forces several days
ago. The occupation would appear
to indicate that the American forces
are moving northward to establish
bases for land planes for further
movements against the Jap-held
Gilberts and the large Japanese
naval base at Truk.
Funafuti has lagoon which would =
provide a harbor for surface ships.
Funafuti also bears the name of
Ellice Island which is the name ap-
piled to the whole group. It is
located on the eastern reef and about
6.8 miles long. It's width varies
from SO to $50 yards. except in an
elbow where the width is about TOO
yards. The whole island, according
to the Navy, is densely covered with
coconut palms. The principal vii
lage is Fongafale, which is situated
on the lagoon on which surface
vessels may anchor for protection
from heavy weather. The popula-
tlon of the island, which is former
British mandate, was 1872 in 1929, Of
which five were Europeans.
The Ellice group extends about
800 miles in northwesterly and
southeasterly directions. All the
islands are said to be inhabited.
They are low and fiat, thus provid-
ing places for airplane runways.
The islands were discovered by
Capt. De Peyster of the American
ship Rebecca in 1919, and were first
accurately charted by the United
States exploring expedition in 1S4O.
Jap Positions Strafed.
In other actions in the South
Pacific, the Navy disclosed that J..
group of United States fighter
planes strafed Japanese positions in
Bougainville Strait Wednesday.
Enemy installations near Cape Alex
| ander and, on Choiseul Island also
were bombed.
During the same night, Flying
Fortresses and Liberator heavy
bombers with Avenger torpedo
bomber support attacked Poporang
Island in the Shorthand Island area.
Two Of the many fires which were
started there were said to have
been visible for 40 miles.
Also on Wednesday night Avenger
torpedo bombers attacked an enemy
ship near BUM in the Shorthand
Island area. However, according to
the Navy, enemy fighter interception
precluded observation of results, but
the belief was expressed that hits
were scored on the ship. All United
States planes returned.