The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-18
First Detailed Account of Campaign Released By
 Navy Today
AMERICANS ALL SET
 DESPITE BAD WEATHER
Tone of Tokyo Broadcasts Indicates Japs Not Ex
 peCted 10 Hold Island
BY SANDOR $. KLEIN United Press Staff COrrespondent)

b4 SANDOh ,. hLEIN United Press Staff COrrespondent)
 Washington, May 18. - (UP) - Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox announced today that American troops have smashed one of the main centers of enemy re- sistance on Attu. He said that our troops had captured a ridge, where the enemy was holding up a two- pronged American advance on the main Japanese positions around Holtz Bay.
 Knox told press conference that. despite the stubborn resistance of the Japanese, casualties so far in the campaign are much lighter" than had been expected.
 The secretary met reporters an hour after the Navy issued com- munique stating that Japanese forces entrenched along the rocky ridge were giving stubborn resist ance to two columns of American troops landed on the southeastern and northeastern ends of the island.
 We now have word that our troops have captured that ridge and driven the enemy out" Knox said. "We are now in possession of the ridge"
 The ridge, running from east to west. is south of Holtz Bay. There is pass in 1t some place, Knox said. It's capture, be said, will make 1t pos- sible to carry out pincers opera tion against the main enemy posi- tions, established chiefly around Holtz Bay.
 Knox said he had no definite word as to whether a juncture between the two forces had yet been effected. For the present, he said, it would be correct to say that they are ap- preaching each other.
 Two Landings At Bay
 He said the larger of the two army landing forces came ashore at Mas sacre Bay, on the southeastern end of Attu It apparently was this force. Knox said, which overcame enemy resistance on the ridge.
 Naval surface forces are continu- ing to aid the ground elements with bombardments whenever the oppor- tunity presents itself. But he point ed out that visibility is generally poor.
 Knox said the bulk of the Ameri- can landing forces were comprised of army infantry. The rest appar- ently included other army elements.
 "They are still fighting" he said, indicating that the capture of the ridge itself did not end enemy re- sistance on the island. At the outset of his conference, Knox pointed out that secrecy was essential in an operation such as that at Attu He said apparently the Japanese knew nothing of our plans until after we had made land ings on the beaches.
 Then we met with very serious, very stubborn resistance" he added. "The operations continue and the need for secrecy continues until the operations are absolutely success ful."
 He pointed out that the harbors were not deep and anchorages were few If the Japanese had had any inkling of what was to come, they might have offered serious opposi. tion to the ships.
 Knox said he did not think the enemy had installations anywhere except at the eastern end of the island.
 A few days of good weather would very greatly help" because it would permit greater degree of aerial support for ground forces.
 The communique reported that operations against the enemy are continuing"
 The Navy revealed for the frs time that the landings were preced ed by heavy naval smelling of Jap anese positions and by aerial bomb ing. Since then. U. s. army plane, have bombed and strafed the enemy repeatedly in spite of weather has ards, it added.
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