The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-01
jams Claim Commando
Attacks ON NIarSIlaIIS
Nilnitz Keeps
Silence on
Action

tBy International News Service)
An anxious world waited ex-
pectanlly today for latest official
details OF violent battles reported
raging in the enemy-held Marshall
Islands Of the South-Central Pa
cific.
Although the Tokyo radio indi-
Gated American troops may pe
staging commando-type raids on
the strategic archipelago. Admiral
Chester W Simitz's headquarters
remained close-mouthed regarding
the action Most quarters took
this 10 indicate a desire TO keep
the Japs guessing until the entire
operation whatever ms purpose
IS completed or its success at
least assured
Nimitz's headquarters announc.
ed merely that powerful American
squadrons blasted principal points
IL the Marshalls with seven new
raids. and also disclosed that the
former United States island OF
Wake 10 the north had been heay.
lily bombed by Navy coronado
planes
The new Marshall raids support.
ed an assault upon the Archipe-
lago by "A carrier task force. be-
lieyed to include battleships and
heavy cruisers. The Army bomb
ers dropped 80 tons Of bombs on
their detectives. or the Wake Is
land operation. the American an.
rouncemont said tersely.
Two squadrons OF Coronado sea-
planes Of fleet arriving two made
strong attack on Wake Island
during the night OF Jan. 30.3l. All
bombs hit In or near the target
area and no planes wore lost"
No mention was made OF pos.
sible ground action in the Marsh.
alls. but the Tokyo radio declared
-that Army and Navy garrisons
on the islands have intercepted
and are now engaged In fierce
fighting. This was taken as a.
hint that American units actually
may have disembarked on the Ja-
panese territory.
Continue Campaign
To the southwest, Gen. Douglas
MacArthur's airmen were contn.
uing an almost ceaseless campaign
to neutralize the Japanese bastion
OF Rabaul on New Britain. Two
new raids, carried out Saturday.
brought TO p the number OF ss.
saults dealt that base during Jam
nary. That there may have been
others before February started
was considered a distinct possibil.
ny due 10 the incessant nature OF
the aerial offensive.
Saturdays dual assault resulted
IN destruction or at least &c. and
possibly a.. Japanese planes.
Twelve OF the Nip aircraft were
caught on the ground when four
motored Liberators. as well az
torpedo and dive bombors, ham
mered the Lakunai and Tobera air.
dromes. The others were shot
down In air combat, when 80 zeros
sought TO interceW the America.
formations
Jap positions al AleAiShAen
we're hit rs was shipping in Hahsa
Bay. both on New Guinea. Two
300 ton cargo ships were sunk.
500 ton craft left aflame, and
lugger and six barges wrecked
American and British troops OF
the Fifth Army expanded their
bridgehead along the Italian coas-
tai area below Rome, while other
units along the MnturnoCassino
front to -seHtb-made- nrogreas
against the Nazi Gustav line.
Repealed by Yanks
A fresh German counter-attack
southwest Of the highway juno
ton of Cistcrna was repealed by
Yank troops. which were enjoy
ing support rom Allied naval and
air fleets Which hammered COM
munication lines and troop con-
centrations convergiug on the Ale
lied bridgehead.
Northwest Of Casino. the Amer
leans took two strategic hills ana