Evening star., 1944-02-27
War Review
Navy Pierces Inner
Japanese Defenses
Bv Ho,pard p. Bailey,

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The big mystery concerning the
whereabouts Of the Japanese feet
was further increased last week by
the daring assault by an American
naval task force against the Mari
anas Islands deep in enemy DOM
mated waters and only about 400
miles from the Japanese main
islands.
This latest bold venture against
the enemy marks the first penetra-
tion OF the inner defenses of the
Japanese in the Central Pacific. 1t
demonstrates how strongly the bal
ance of power in the waters of the
Pacific has turned in favor of the
American Navy.
If further evidence were needed to
indicate the deep and growing con-
Germ of the japanese high command
over the acceleration of the series
of Allied victories, it could be found
IN the sudden removal of Fleet Ad-
miral Nagano, chief of the Japanese
Navy's general staff, and Marshal
Sugiyama, chief of the army's gen.
eral staff, by Premier TOTO, who then
called for a meeting of the ministry
at the palace where the ministry
never meets excepting in times of
gravest emergency.
There were reports from Shanghai
to the effect that a movement is
under way demanding the removal OF
TOTO himself while Vichy reported
the imperial palace will be the scene
of all future meetings of the min
istry.
State of Emergency.
With the American Navy striking
at Guam, with Rabaul and Kavieng,
the main base on New Ireland ap-
parently ripe for plucking and with
Admiral NimitZ's recent statement
that the American Navy is going to
drive straight across the Pacific for
the purpose Of establishing bases on
the coast of China still ringing in
their ears, the Japs have declared
state of emergency in the Philip
pine Islands which they may fear
will be the next major objective of
the Allied forces.
The absence of the Jap fleet from
Iruk and now from Saipan in the
Marianas has led to some specula-
ton that it is based either in the
Philippines or has been pulled back
to defend the home islands.
The attack on the Marianas
which occurred last Tuesday was not
a surprise as was the blow at Truk.
The enemy was aware of the ap-
proach Of the heavy task force
which sent hundreds of planes
against Saipan, Tinian and Guam,
which lies about II miles to the
south, yet the opposition was so
light, only six American planes were
lost and no ship was so much as
scratched. The Japs lost l35 planes
either In combat Of resting on the
ground, and in addition, a patrol
ship and a cargo vessel were sunk
and nine other ships were damaged
Knox Belittles Japs.
For full day prior to the attack
on the islands, the approaching
American fleet was under attack bv
enemy torpedo and heavy land,
based bombers but not a bomb or
torpedo got home, giving consider
able support to Navy Secretary
Knoxs statement Friday that the
quality of the Japanese pilot has
deteriorated badly and the efficiency
OF American antiaircraft defenses
has been materially improved.
During the course of the week
American ground forces completed
the capture of Eniwetok in the
Northwestern Marshalls and bomb
ers from the Aleutians struck at
Paramushiro and Shumushu. jap
anese bases in the Kuriles.
Down on New Britain Island
marines who landed at Cape Glou-
cester and Army units which went
ashore at Arawe have driven inland
and made contact thus cutting off
the southern end OF New Britain
from the rest of the island. Repeat
ed air raids on Rabaul during the
week met little enemy opposition
and particularly impressive was the
absence of shipping of any conse-
quence In the harbor. Mopping up
operations in the Solomons con-
tinues AS the Allied forces under
Macarthur and Halsey prepare for
new blows at the enemy.
The growing weight of Allied
strength is beginning to be felt in
Burma, where Mountbatten is clear
Ing up some of the preliminaries
preparatory to full-scale campaign
Unprecedented Raid Series.
The heaviest and longest -sus-
tanned series of air raids aimed at
Germany and German facilities in
occupied areas last week struck
crippling blows at German air
power. not only causing tremendous
destruction in aircraft factories but
Knocking hundreds of Nazi planes
out OF the sky. The accomplish
ments, however, were not without
cost, nor without retaliation, to the
thousands of bombers involved in
the raids, scores were lost in air
battles over the continent and Lon-
don was subjected to several raids
which caused some damage and
light casualties.
The American air force sent 1000
bombers escorted by 1000 fighters
against Leipzig and other key man.
ufacturing centers Sunday. A Mes
serchmitt assembly plant was badly
damaged and 126 Nazi planes were
shot down. Twenty-one American
bombers and two fighters were lost
to swell toll marked by the loss
OF 70 British bombers the night
before.
Monday another 1000 American
planes hit plane factory at Bruns-
wick, Is bombers and five fighters
failing to return from the attack
which cost the Nazis at least 33
planes.
Striking powerfully both from Eng
land and Italy on Tuesday, American
planes badly damaged aircraft fac
tories at Bernberg, Aschersleben,
Halberstadt, Regensburg and Peters,
hausen. A total of SO American
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