Evening star., 1943-03-04
Japs' Pacific
Plans Smashed,
Patterson Says
Undersecretory Cites
Increasing Role Of
Planes in War
By the Associated Press.


japanese plans "for the coming
campaigns in the South Pacific"
have been disrupted by the
smashing of their 22-ship convoy
In the Bismarck Sea by Gen.
Douglas MacArthur's air forces,
Undersecretary Of War Robert P.
Patterson said today.
Reviewing the last week. Mr.. Pat
terson told his press conference that
continued good news from all war
fronts was climaXed by the brilliant
victory which left all % enemy ships
sunk Or sinking and SIS enemy air
craft shot down in a tWo-dav battle.
On other fronts, he had these re-
ports.
Developments in Tunisia continue
10 be favorable. with the Axis thrust
IN Central Tunlsia repelled and the
German command evidently con-
cerned over the vigor Of Allied
counterattacks.
Allied airmen have scored striking
successes in the Mediterranean. with
repeated attacks on Axis positions
IN Italy, Sicily, Sardinia and Tu-
nisia.
Blow to Axis Morale.
Around-the-clock bombing of en-
emy installations in France and
Germany, climaXed with the raid on
Berlin, has been hard blow to Axis
pride and prestige and undoubtedly
has damaged civilian morale within
Germany.
Stlffened German resistance has
slowed the Russian advances on the
central and southern fronts. but the
Red Army nevertheless retains the
initiative and is likely to be stopped
only by the spring thaws and not
by the force of Axis arms.
In Southern China the japanese
have suffered severe losses in fight
Ing which resulted in heavy cas-
ualtles on both sides.
Inc victory over the formidable
1lotilla' of japanese ships in the
Bismarck Sea, Mr.. Patterson said
was IAN indication of what aircraft
can do, and of the increasingly i'm
portant part they are going to play
In the fortunes of this war"
Activity Near RabauI
AS previously reported, Mr.. Pat
terson said, the japanese for some
time have been very active in the
Islands north of Australia, with the
main activity centering around
Rabaul on New Britain. Their in
tentions have been carefully
masked, he added but despite eyerv
effort of the enemy to take advan-
tage Of inclement weather to con-
ceal the movement of the convoy
toward New Guinea it was detected
and destroyed by Allied airmen.
Mr.. Patterson remarked that news
reports of the Tunisian fighting
nave been prompt and very re-
liable" In Central Tunisia, he said
Allied forces have regained much
OF the ground lost in the initial
fighting and have reoccupied Kas-
serine, Feriana, Sbetila and are
still advancing.
The British 9th Army is exertine
heaVy pressure against the German
forces in Southern Tunisia. and the
outlook is for increasingly sharp
fighting along the entire Tunisian n
front.
Germans Show Concern.
The evident concern" of the Ger
man command over the strength of
Allied counterattacks, Mr.. Patterson
said, is shown by the series of dis
connected attacks against the Brit
1sh 1st Army's positions in Northern
Tunisia and the widespread use of
mine fields and 'booby traps" in
the path of Allied forces advancing
In the central sector
The estimate of losses in the re-
cent North African fighting is in
complete, the Undersecretary said
but there is no doubt that we have
MADE the enemy pay heavily"
In connection with the raids from
Britain on the continent, MI. Pat
terson said the heavy attacks on
the submarine bases at ST Nazaire
Brest and Wilhelmshaven should
not be overlooked No immediate
decrease In German submarine ac-
tlVity can be expected. he asserted
but IN the next few months the
effect OF these raids should become
quite obvious, if they are continued