Evening star., 1944-04-30

tTated their antl-lnvaSlon de-
fenSes along the low and &C
cessible Channel coast, short
over-water hop from England,
where the Allies are massed. The
distance between the British
a general offensive is underway or
about to be launched from the Car
pathian positions now held by the
Reds and from advance lines now
moving forward in Romania.
Japs in Trouble.
In the Pacific, the war is going
badly for the Japs and at no point
other than in the Northern Honan
area in China can they find any
cause for cheer. Local successes
there can hardly offset the tide of
doom which is rolling in all along the
perimeter of their conquests from
India to the northern tip of their
empire in the Kuriles.
Sunday came the startling an
nouncement of amphibious opera
tions planned and led by Gen. Mac
Arthur, which developed quickly
into capture of the important base
OF Hollandia on the northern shore
of New Guinea and the supporting
airfield at Aitape, lying southeast of
Hollandia in the direction of Ma
dang. Hollandia is the first impor-
tant base in the Dutch East Indies
to be retaken from the Japs 1t lies
about 1,150 miles from Mindanoa,
southern island in the Philippine
group, upon which no doubt Gen.
Macarthur has his eye in fulfill
ment of his promise to the Filipinos
that he would return and free them
from their japanese conquerors.
This new jump in the game of
leap-frog in which the Allied forces
are doing all the leaping was made
possible through the cooperation
of the Central Pacific naval forces
of Admiral Nirnitz, which carried
on a devastating shelling of the
shore installations before thousands
of troops swarmed ashore to over
whelm weak Japanese resistance.
1t was made possible also by a
determined Australian attack to-
ward Wewak which tented the Japs
out Of position and into a defense
OF the Wewak base which was in
reality to be bypassed by the as
Sault 500 miles to the west.
The success of the landings served
to isolate the remainder of the 140,-
900 Japs now in New Guinea and
the Solomons, all that are left of
the 250,000 eager troops TOTO had
concentrated in those islands pre-
paratory to what he thought would
be the invasion of Australia.
/ hopping up continued through
out the week until by yesterday
the only Japs not back in the jun
giles or mountains were occasional
snipers who remained behind with
more fanaticism than good judg-
ment.
Another Atoll Captured.
In the Central Pacific there was
an additional conquest, the Navy
capturing Ujelang Atoll, only 264
miles from bombed Ponape
and only 644 miles from Truk, which
is almost useless to the Japs after
being raided at will by American
flyers. Taongi, northernmost of the
Marshalls, from which the attacks
on Wake are presumed to have been
launched at the start of the war
was severely bombed by American
planes.
Paramushiro, Shumushu, Truk
Ponape and other Japanese bases
were bombed throughout the week
and yesterday it was reported that
Guam, in the Marianas, was heavily
raided.
In the Indian warfare the Japs
after their initial successes, seem to
have suffered severe reverses and the
American and Chinese forces. under
1t. Gen. StilWell, are racing the
approaching monsoons in an effort
to seize the important japanese
supply base in Burma at Myitkyna
In fact, the claim is made that the
backbone Of japanese strength has
been broken in the Mogaung Valley
and that the Allies are making
rapid advances southwark with the
Japs In imminent danger of a ma iol
disaster. 1t appears that only the
rainy season stands between them
and serious defeat.
In India, Lord Mountbatten de.
clared that the situation is ma.
teriauy improved and that at nc
time was the effort to open a new
supply route over the Ledo road into
China endangered.
Kohima Is Reinforced.
Reinforcements are pouring into
Kohima, the hill town which is the
gateway to the plains of Assam
| The Japs, occupying positions in
the hills, can watch the troops ar
irving but are in no position to dc
anything about it.
/ The fighting runs from Jungle
warfare 10 campaigning 5000 feet
up in the mountains.
In Honan, the Japs are having
considerable success as they seek
to complete their control of the
Peiping- -HankoW railroad and cap
ture or destroy the rich wheat cror
about ready to be harvested for
China's hungry millions.
1t is reported that 18 crack divi-
sions which had been held along
the Manchukuoan border to meet any
Russian hoStilities have been sent
into action in Honan and in nine
days have succeeded in capturing
some | 800 SnlIsre miles il, the haa ri