The Wilmington morning star., 1943-08-22
NO ENEMIES FOUND
Tokyo's Ambitious Inva-
sion OF North America
Ends In Failure
BOMBED log TIMES
Naval Surface Craft Sent
Shells Into Island On
Is Occasions
BY HAMILTON w. FARON

Dy AAAANAAAA OAN W.. IAASOAS
WASHINGTON, Aug. 81.
|-(P)-American and Cana
dian forces, their enemy fled
without offering final battle.
stood undisputed masters of
Kiska tonight and the once
ambitious japanese invasion
of North America lay a
bombed and bombarded fail
ure.
mo japanese were found"
With those words the Navy
told today of seizure on Aug.
Is of the once strong enemy
air and submarine base in the
Aleutian Islands.
Two weeks of the heaviest bomb
ings yet carried out against the
Japanese preceded the landings,
the Navy disclosed in lifting the
silence that has cloaked north Paci-
fic actions for three weeks. 1t ex-
planned this silence was prompted
by a belief the Japanese radio
equipment had been smashed and
the Navy wished to supply Tokyo
with no news.
Raided 106 Times
In IA days-August l to 14-heavy
and light bombers, dive bombers,
fighter planes, cannon carrying
planes roared down on Kiska 106
times. They dumped tons and tons
of bombs on the enemy positions,
knocking out. gun emplacements,
tearing up the Japanese airfield,
blowing up or setting afire build
ings and supplies.
Naval surface units were equal
ly busy. On Is occasions they
steamed into the choppy waters
off Kiska and sent their big shells
shrieking onto the island. Once
heavy Naval units-certainly cruis-
ers, possibly battleships-stood off
shore and poured 1900 shells onto
the Japanese positions. They were
unopposed.
President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister W. L. Mackenzie King Of
Canada hailed the occupation in
joint statement at Quebec where
Allied leaders are plotting new
troubles for the Axis. They said:
1.-THE present occupation Of Kiska
frees the last vestige of North Am
erican territory of Japanese fore
es,"
Beginning OF End
The absence of opposition to the
big naval bombardment was one
of the indications of the beginning
of the end for the Japanese on
Kiska. Doubtless this shelling was
a major part in the relentless
pounding that ultimately forced
the enemy decision to give up the
island.
Days after that bombardment
from the sea the last enemy oppo-
sitfon was reported on August 13.
Then it was only light anti-aircraft
fire against bombers and fighters
which shattered buildings with di-
rect hits and set off many fires
at Gertrude Cove and North Head
in the main camp and north OF
Reynard Point. Sometime shortly
thereafter the Japanese escaped,
for two days later when American
and Canadian troops made their
landings no enemy forces were
found on Kiska. Fogs presumably
aided the Japanese in evacuating
the remnants Of their garrison,
once estimated at 10000 men. But
he Navy, in offering that sup
position, was careful to qualify,
saying:
'1t is not known how the Japa-
lese got away, but it is possible
hat enemy surface ships were able
o reach Kiska under cover Of the
leavy fogs that have been preva-
ent."
All Disappear
Regardless of the method Of es.
ape, all of the enemy had disap-
,eared when American and Cana.
lian troops leaped into the icy
urf and charged onto the rocky
,eaches in the first reported joint
.ction by American and Canadian
round forces in the Aleutians.
canadian bomber and fighter
Continued on Page Five; Col. 4