Evening star., 1943-11-24

unity to Japan is one of the steps
along the road to Toxic" he said
yesterday in an interview.
The admiral indicated the Japa-
nese fleet which has made no ap-
parent attempt to contact the
United States Fleet, may yet accept
an engagement.
Major Pacific Action Expected.
I'VE may expect some major ac-
ton in the Pacific" he said. "The
possibility must be kept in mind
and we, must constantly be pre-
pared for it. So long as Japan's main
fleet units are intact it behooves us
to maintain strength to insure such
an engagement will come out favor
ably for our forces.
I'VE must not disperse our fleet
to permit the Japs to concentrate
on any unit which might be weaker
than the main enemy fleet"
All services, the Army, Navy, Ma
rines and Coast Guard are repre-
sented in the Gilbert offensive and
are "co-operating 100 per cent" he
said.
There are no jealousies and none
will be permitted. Everybody is
carrying a big load, cheerfully and
skillfully."
He declared he was Completely
satisfied and very much pleased
with the success of the Gilbert oper-
ations," and that he believed that
"the Japanese air force is being de-
pleted steadily"
Submarine Attacks Foreseen.
1--WE know that the Japanese can
not replace their aircraft as rapidly
as we can replace ours" he said.
The Navy expected strong Japa-
nese air and submarine reaction as
rapidly as the enemy could move
such forces into the Gilberts area.
THE Japanese have five air bases
In the Marshalls-Kwajal jalein, Mill,
Wolfe, Malloeap and Jaluit, the lat
ter a seaplane base," he said. THE
Japs can operate submarines from
any lagoon with good anchorage by
using submarine tender.
I'VE are not immune to those at
tacks, but We went prepared for
them and when they come they will
not be surprise"
Toxic radio, gravely reporting to
the japanese people that "a part of
our territory has been exposed to
fierce battles" speculated on the in
evitability of decisive action by the
lonB-hidden Japanese fleet.
Jap Fleet Dispersed.
admiral Nimitz expressed belief
thSt the japanese fleet was dis
pereed from the Kuriles, to the north
OF Japan, all the way to the Dutch
Indies far to the south; that recent
air. blows struck at Rabaul, New
Britain, against enemy cruisers and
destroyers seriously had impaired
enemy naval ability to retaliate in
the area; and, even if Japanese units
were within striking distance, the
Japanese admirals had held back in
fear that the Gilbert invasion might
be q diversionary feint.
American aircraft carriers and
undisclosed land bases poured
bombers northwestward beyond the
Gilberts to pin down air power on
Japan's five bases in the Marshalls.
The big enemy air base of Nauru,
500 miles southwest of Gilberts, has
been so severely blasted by LIBERIA
tors that it was reported in no
shape to figure presently in the op-
erationS. Even Ocean Island, to
the southeast OF Nauru, has been
pounded.
Makin's 1000 enemy defenders
were reported unable to inf1ict more
than light casualties on troops of
the 9th Infantry Division which
opeqed the swift conquest there
Saturday.
1t. Col. James Roosevelt, eldest
son OF the President, was on hand
for the islands fall.
Tarawa's much larger Japanese
.orce dealt somewhat greater pun
Shment to the I'd Division Marines
Eho stormed its open beaches the
ame day, Admiral Nimitz said.
Jap Claims Denied.
The Marines at Abemama pre-
-Nmably had to deal with only light
5ppQNtion in bringing the situation
thercfwell in hand"
To Toxic radio claims of having
sunk one aircraft carrier and a de-
etroyer In the Gilberts-claims of