Evening star., 1943-05-23
BY EUGENE BURNS,

MASSACRE BAY. Attu. May II
tDelayed) American troops are in
possession Of the west arm of Holtz
Bay after seven days Of fighting
and are now on the ridge looking
into the east arm Of Holtz Bay,
according to reports from Navy Cat
alma flyers and from {. front line
firing positions
From a vessel in Massacre Bay
last night one could see the gun
fire In Massacre Pass, 1000 yards
away.
The comparatively small scout
and reconnaissance unit which
landed at Blind Cove, midway be-
tween Steller Cove and Holtz Bay,
and crossed the 3.0oO-foot ridge
through waist deep snow, has joined
the assault forces which landed
about 3la miles northeast Of Japa-
nese positions at Holtz and ad-
vanced with them.
Their mission-to neutraliZe the
fire of enemy positions overlooking
our troops attacking the West
army Of Holtz-has been accom-
plished, despite many hardships.
1t is doubtful If they had warmer
than below zero, Centigrade tfreez-
ing, Fahrenheit) weather through
out their six days.
Fog Helps japanese.
Meanwhile, at Massacre Pass the
American troops are being held up
by enemy gun positions just above
the fog line. 1t is tantalizing. The
fog blanket is just low enough to
give the Japanese guns coverage
and to make our artillery and ma
chine gun fire Intellectual.
This morning. once again, the fog
blanket has formed an impen-
etrable 80O-foot ceiling.
While patrolling yesterday in a
Navy Catalina flying boat piloted
by 1t. Frank NJ. Ralston, q, Of
Oakland, Calf. saw Army Liber-
ators unload their bombs at Chi
chagof, starting fires.
They swooped out of the haze
into the tiny mountain-girt harbor
1t took good plotting. AS they
swept out, their giant wings were
almost vertical and not more than
so feet from the water. For mo-
ment, with ack-ack fire all around
them. 1t looked like a crash. And
during all this, the Liberator ma
chine gunners poured a steady fire
into the Japanese.
Repeated Four Times.
During the short time we passed
the entrance of Holtz Bay, this
scene was repeated four times-and
each time I expected the plane to
wing over and crash into the water
These giants of the air were fol-
lowed by looming bolts Of man.
made lightning
Then. from out of the fog, ap-
peared Kinghshers.
They look like float Zeros," said
Plane Capt. George M. shafer, 81,
OF Swedesboro, N. J. Capt Shafer
knows. He has seen Zeros in action
in Java when the Japs made two
or three raids a day for almost a
month.
The Kingishers performed a Job
perhaps never done before by this
Navy observation plane. They dive
bombed with 325-pound bombs
That's right, dive-bombed THE
Kingfisher is the slowest combat
plane of any front-Althoueh when
souped up manages to tag along
with a get-you-there and bring you
back Catalina,)
AS it now stands. chief japanese
resistance is at Massacre Pass and
Chichagof Harbcr, where the little
white Russian church still stands,
overlooking what was once Attu
village.
Secs Artillery Fire.
Approaching Attu from the west,
about noon, we first saw artillery
fire at Massacre Pass. Then we
witnesses the Liberator, Lightning
and Kingfisher attack on Chichaeof
Harbor installations, followed later
in the day by destroyer attacks. =
Army and Navy gunf1re and Navy
and Army airpower were combined
that looked good.
Then, during tM tedious eight
hour anti-submarine patrol in our
Catalina, we watched the boats
speeding supplies ashore. There
were usually from 8 to 10 boats COM
ing and going. Those returning had
prows high in the water, those going
to shore were deep laden.
Two spotlessly white seagalls rode