Evening star., 1944-06-18
War Review
Offensive Rolls on
Many Fronts
By Howard p. Bailey

By Hovard p. Bailey
Historians will record the pas
week as one of the most importan
of the war, a week in which tn
Allied offensive really began roll
ing and which may prove to b.
the beginning Of the decisive phas'
Of the war.
Outstanding were:
A devastating raid by scores
Of the new B-29 Super Fortresses
from bases in China which is
estimated to have knocked out
one-fifth of Japan's industry in
q matter of minutes.
A successful landing in the
Marianas Islands only about
1,5o0 miles from Tokyo.
The shelling of the mid
Kurile group by a naval task
force and a similar attack on the
Bonin Islands, less than 900 miles
from Yokohoma on the main
Japanese island of Honshu.
The successful isolation of the
German troops on the Cher
bourg Peninsula.
A smashing Russian drive into
Finland which is likely to take
Finland out Of the war within a
short time.
A rapid advance in italy which
has moved the American 5th
Army within IS miles Of the Pisa
Florence line, last obstacle to
complete domination of all but
Northern Italy.
Disclosure of Hitler's secret
weapon, a small robot plane,
apparently rocket-powered and
! perhaps radio controlled which
explodes seconds after landing.
So far the British have taken it
In their stride.
Steel Works Blasted.
The action in the Pacific cam,
with dramatic swiftness, especial,
the air raid on Kyushu Island OF
which is located Yawata, known a
the Pittsburgh of Japan. In on,
brief raid which cost four of tn
new Super Fortresses, the vast I'm
perial Iron g. Steel Works was lef
a great blazing inferno. the flame
Of which were still visible to tn
occupants of the planes after the,
had sped go miles on their way bacI
to their bases.
Enthusiasm over the success of tn,
raid may have brought some over
estimation of the damage, but tina
a severe blow has been strucl
against Japan's none too extensive
steel industry is certain.
After the raid which occurred
June Is. it was revealed that tn,
B-29 which cruises at 10000 fee
altitude and can bomb from tina
height, is now in quantity produc
tion. Those SO far in service are II
a separate air force, attached to n,
fixed theater of war but on a rovin,
assignment to hit the enemy at an,
place which at the moment seem
desirable. Their great cruising .radiu
permits flights from remote base
and their tremendous payload ant
heavy armor and armament max
them powerful weapons. Japan wa
promised other and even more un
pleasant visits.
About eight days ago, the Navy be
gan bombing the Marianas, carrier
borne planes leading the attacl
which was followed by shelling a
the task force drew in close to tn
shores of Guam, Saipan, Tinian an,
Rota. Tuesday the Navy announces
that the plane attack had resulte'
in the destruction of 141 Jap plane
and tie sinking of 13 ships, includ
ing a destroyer. three corvettes
oilers and cargo ships. Sixteen othe
ships were damaged.
landings Last Wednesday.
Wednesday came the announce
ment that the task force, moving il
behind Saipan, had reached tn
beaches and that troops had beel
put ashore and were moving slowl,
inland. Facing heavy opposition
from tanks, mortars and other heav,
weapons, the Allies nevertheless
pressed their attack and thei
beachhead is now declared secure
Preliminary estimates place tn
Japanese strength at two divisions
between 10000 and 80, 900 men, Will
the Japs report that the Allies hav
put full division ashore.
Friday the Navy announced tn
attack on the Bonin Islands and OF
the Volcano group, $50 miles to tn
south. The purpose of this attacl
in which tnc ,cxz force penetrate,
deeply through Japans inner rim
of defense. apparently was to destro
airfields from which the enem
might harass the troops invadin
Saipan.
In the raid ON the Bonins, Al en-
emy planes were destroyed and tw
ships were sunk with IL others dam
aged.
There was some belief expresse
that the task force was the on
which attacked the Kuriles at tn
time of the opening of the attac
on the Marianas. The Kurile thrus
was probably a diversion to divid
Japanese defending forces whicl
could not be certain whether
landing was to be attempted b
either or both of the task forces.
While the Navy was striking, Ger
MacArthurs land-based bombers i
excellent coordination, attacke
sYy,,k and Dolou u,itt nernnio II