Evening star., 1943-06-14
New Technique Used
By laps 10 Ward Off
j. ). Mass Bombinqs
Send Big Fighter Group
To Intercept Yonks;
Half Were Shot Down
BY the Associated Press.

6S lhe Associated Press.
A new technique OF sending
great flights Of fighter planes
out on hunting expeditions in a
desperate effort to halt relent-
less bombing of their bases ap-
parently has been adopted by
the Japanese in the South
Pacific.
But it has failed thus far-the
honbings continue and the fighting
planes are being shot out of the
skies in ever increasing numbers.
Evidence of the new defensive tao
tics has been growing in recent air
battling throughout the South Pa
clf1c area, with more and more aerial
engagements being reported.
Japs Lose Planes.
1t reached high point with
flight Of 40 to So Japanese fighter
planes reported engaged over the
Russell Islands in the Solomons Sat-
urday, and the Navy reported yes
terday that at least half of the
f1ight-possibly 33-were shot down
Obviously the planes were under
instructions to seek out American
units and attempt to drive them
back. Presumably, their objectives
were the bombing planes that have
roared out of Guadalcanal and 9TH
er bases with almost clocklike regu-
larity to hit japanese positions in
the Solomons, for fighters would be
able to lnfllct little damage on sur
face vessels.
Navy, marine and Army fighter
planes engaged the big flight of
enemy ships. Six American planes
went into the sea but all except two
pilots were rescued. Before the dog
fight ended. 25 of the japanese
planes definitely had been shot
down the Navy reported. and eight
more probably were destroyed.
Yank Attack Continues.
Bombers were active, TOO, against
the japanese. Two Liberators or a.
mission west of Buka, north of
Bougalnvllle Island, encountered
and engaged pair of the enemy S
vaunted Mitsubishi bombers. One
enemy bomber was sent into the
ocean 20 miles west of Buka.
1t was the sixth Mitsubishi shot
down in the Solomons in less than
q week. On Friday the Navy had
reported that four were shot down
by United States fighter planes over
the north end OF Malaita Island
Revised data Yesterday increased
the toll in that engagement to five
enemy bombers.
The attack on the Japanese land
bases also continued throughout the
Pacific with raids in the Solomons
and the Aleutians.
A small formation of Boston at
tack planes bombed and machine
gunned Japanese tracks and trails
in the komiatum area near Sala-
maua, New Guinea. making 80
strafne passes on scattered enemy
holdings
The japanese made two night
time raids, one with three planes
against Coma. the other with four
planes against Port Moresbv. There
was no damage from either attack.
There was no letup in the pound
ing Of Kiska in the Aleutians. Army
Llberator heavy bombers. Mitchell
medium bombers and Lightning
and Warhawk fighters made five
separate raids Friday morning
Bomb hits were scored in the
enemy's main camp area and on
the runway of the japanese airfeld
on Klska. The fighter planes
strickland possibly sank-barges
tied up in Kiska Harbor
On the other side of the ledger
the Navv reported over the week
end that the U. S. submarines AM
herjack and Grampus, each carry
Ing about so men, had failed to
return from patrol and must be
presumed lost.
Japs Claim 33 Planes.
Japanese imperial headquarters
claimed today 33 United States
planes were shot down by japanese
Navy planes in an engagement Sat-
urday over the Russell Islands. The
Japanese said they lost five planes.
The reports broadcast by the
Toxic radio and recorded by the
Associated Press, differed greatly
from the United States Navy fig
ureS.
Against the background of recent
japanese setbaCks, the japanese
Diet prepared to meet in special ses-
sion tomorrow with Premier Hideki
TOTO scheduled for an address
Wednesday.
The Office OF War Informal ton
said Toxic broadcasts had heralded
the session as one of important
historical significance" because it
would make clear the government
determination to the people at home
and abroad on the prosecution of
national policies '"
Owl said previously issued de-
eree that no questioning would be
permitted will believe Toto of an
sWering any embarrassing questions
about the war.
Revenue bills were the principal
Items OF Diet business, a japanese
broadcast was quoted as saying,
and only TOTO will address the Diet
instead of each minister making re-
ports Tor his own department, it
was said.