Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-05-09
The ar
Today
New Offensive
Ia North Pacific
May Reach Toxic
By CLARK n. WooDW ARD
Rear Admiral. Y. =. Ns'y

TIE navS announcement ot
the occupation OF Amchiika
Island. in the AlcuUans. pres
ages an intensified offensive in
ssne North Pacific theatcr which
NAV even extend later TO Japan
5tsrlf.
s1t Is part of our program
NJ advance" said Secretary
Knox at his news conference.
Through seizure Of the island
was effected IN January, the
news was not made public until
offensive and defensive works
or the island had been COM
pieted.
Possession Of this new base
considerably improves the mill
4sry situation IN The AlcutlanS
Cor future operations Being
nnlv T. miles from kiSka II
makes that JapaneSe-held base
easily accessible to American
bomber and nghter planes
WHATEVER MAY hC our
plans in detail. we definitely IN
tend 10 retakc both KiSka and
Attu. and from the AleutianS as
stepping stones gradually pro-
coed toward Japan for the pur-
pose Of bombing Too and his
gangster war lords out of Toxic
and teaching the japanese
people that crime does not pay.
An intensive air blitz has
been looSed on KiSka and Attn
during the last three months
from both Amchitka and Adak
tAndreanoff Islands --240 miles
east Of KiSka-Sorne $50 raids
having been made on the enemy
held islands since the begin
ming of February
II is not at all improbable
that an actual land invasion OF
these islands viii soon be initi-
ated from these two bases 10 be
followed later by an offensive
against Japan proper as soon as
weather conditions permit.
OTHER VERY encouraging
news from the Pacific during
the last week was contained In
navy announcements Of i'm
portant and widespread events
which caused severe losses 20
Japan's striking power.
In point of time the first in
cident was the unoppoSed occu-
patton Of the Russell Islands
t30 miles northwest Of Guadal-
canaD by United States am
phibious forces on Feb. 2l-
sometime after enemy resistance
had ceased on Guadalcanal.
THOUGH NO comment was
made regarding this operation,
il is presumed that the Russell
Islands will be used for fighter
bases and serve as outpostS for
the American positions IN the
SolomonS.
Having no harbors or anchor
age for large ships, these islands
have little value except as a
step in an offensive Of greater
dimensions in this spraying
South Pacific theatcr. Their
occupation. therefore. Is an in
dication Of our growing strength
and future strategy.
, Being within 100 miles Of the
nearest Japanese-held bases
where enemy concentrations
may gather 10 attack us-the
Russells could be of consider
able use 10 our fliers in carry
ing the air offensive 10 those
positions.
IN THE NORTH PACIFIC.
.on March 26. an American light
naval patrol force composed Of
two cruisers and four destroyerS,
under command of Rear Admiral
sCharles II. McNoTrls, I 5. ~.
propelled a japanese supply eN-
ipedition com posed Of four
Cruisers. SIX dcStroyerS and TWO
transports after a 3ig hour en-
,eagement 50 miles southeast Of
RusSia's KommandorSki islands
.-190 miles west OF Attn west
enmoSt island Of the Aleutian
) chain
!-..Ihe japanese force was headed
eastward toward the AleutianS,
undoubtedly for the purpose Of
handing supplies and possibly
TeinforcementS on their bases
az Attu and KiSka. At least
three az the enemy cruisers
were damaged before they with
drew-followlng 4 torpedo at
tack by American dcStroyerS
Only minor damage was SUI
fered by our ships
stCopyriEht. 1sla. bN Internal innal Nsw
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