Evening star., 1943-05-23
Enemy Supply Center.
Is Destroyed by
American Flyers
BY the Associated Press.


American troops have split
the japanese remnants on Attu
Island into three isolated groups
in preparation for the final bat
tie, the Navy disclosed yesterday,
the 18th day of fighting on Attu.
Fighter -bombers supporting the
ground forces destroyed Attu village,
apparently the enemy's supply CEN
ter, Friday A fuel depot went up in
flames and other installations took
fire. A church and one other
structure were the only buildings
that rose above the ruins of the
little Aleutians settlement.
The japanese evidently had no
more intention of surrendering, de-
spite the hopelessness of their posi-
ton, than they have had in other
tight spots of the war in New
Guinea and Gaudalcanal There
was no doubt among authorities here
that the fight would go on until the
last enemy soldier has been blasted
or bayoneted from the last foX-hole.
The Navy communique yesterday
brought the fighting up to date,
covering not only the activities of
Friday but also Thursday on which
Fridays communique had not re-
ported.
Positions Described.
The japanese positions were de-
scribed in the communique as be-
ing in:
l. The area around Chichagof har-
Dor, which dents the northeastern
tip of the island.
2. Chichagof Valley, which cleaves
the snow-covered mountains south
west of the harbor
3. The barren shores on the north
side of Lake Nicholas. which lies
probably two or three miles south
east of the Chichagof area.
While the communique did not go
into detail of American positions. it
appeared that spearheads had been
driven thu ough Japan's communica-
ton lines in order to effect the isola-
ton of the enemy's positions. En-
circlement of all three positions ap-
peared possible.
The japanese, however, were still
holding some advantageously high
ground, at least in the area around
Chichagof harbor, and American
casualties we're expected as the mop
ping up continues.
Kiska Bombed Again.
Meanwhile. Army Liberator heavy
bombers made their first attack in
eight days against the big Jap base
and heavily defended installations on
Kiska, 172 miles southeast OF Attu.
Results were not observed due to the
weather, the communique said Pre-
sumably bad weather had compelled
the break in bombing between May
13 and May 81 and the prevalence of
heavy fogs at this season throughout
the Aleutlans area may explain the
deliberate progress of the campaign
on Attu and the infrequent mention
of the participation of planes in the
battle there.
Kiska is considered by many au-
thorities to be next on the list after
American forces conquer Attu.
The events which forced the
enemy into his present uncom-
Portable predicament on Attu go
back to the early part of last week.
Tuesday American forces cleared
pass leading from Massacre Bay,
where one force had landed on
Attu, to Holtz Bay, then the main
Japanese position.
Sarana Pass Captured.
This was followed Wednesday by
the capture of Sarana Pass lead
ing from Massacre to Chichagof
Harbor The advance through this
pass closed the trap around the
peninsula on which Chichagof is
| located and balanced the action of
American troops in the Holtz Bay
area who had forced the enemy
into retreat.
Wednesday Jap forces were re-
ported to have taken up positions
on high ground east of Attu Village
while bombers began hammering
enemy intrenchments in the area
north of Sarana Bay, presumably,
| the same area as was called In