Evening star., 1944-02-24
U.S.. Planes Hammer
jap Islands Within
1900 Miles of okio|
Muriunus Blasted
In Hunt for Ships
Which Fled Truk
MAP on Page A-3.)
By the Associated Press

FLEET HEADQUARTERS, Pearl
Harbor, Feb. 24.-The wars
first blow against the Mariana
j Islands, deep within Japan's de-
tense ring, was dealt Tuesday
by hundreds of planes from air
craft carriers, sent out by Rear
Admiral Marc A. MitScher, who
lashed at Truk last week and
who made possible the 1912 raid
on Toxic.
The bombing of the Marianas, TOO
miles northwest of Truk and 1900
miles south of Toxic, came on the
same day that invasion forces COM
pleted six-day conquest of Eniwe-
tok Atoll, western Marshalls airbase
within land-based bombing range
Of Truk.
opments were disclosed late yester-
day by Admiral Chester w. Nimitz.
Details Not Disclosed.
SAdmiral Mitscher, who captained
the carrier Hornet, from which the
Doolittle bombers took off for Toxic,
presumably led into the daring Mar
lana operation elements of the same
task force used last Wednesday and
Thursday against Truk, demonStrat-
ing the sustained striking power of
the fleet.
Radio silence to protect his ships
movements precluded letails as to
whether the Mariana raiders sank
any warships in Tanpag Harbor at
Saipan Island-the same harbor
from which some japanese fleet
units sailed in June, 1912 to Mid
way, where American forces won a
great victory.
The naval units may have sailed
there in search of the heavy Japa-
nese warships which slipped out of
Truk's lagoon sometime before the
American planes came on the scene
Tinian, naval airbase, also was
q target Tuesday. 1t and Saipan are
near the bottom of the Mariana lad
der of islands ranging north di-
rectly toward Japan. The attacked
bases are approximately $500 stat
ute miles southwest of Pearl Har-
Dor and 1,700 miles west of the
newly won lagoon base Of wajalein
in the Marshalls.
Strong Force in Operation.
Admiral Nimitz's terse communi-
que on the operation which took
place 100 miles north of Guam said
"A strong Pacific Fleet task force,
including several hundred carrier
based aircraft participated Sal
pan ranks second in size to Guam
in the Marianas.
The veil of silence was drawn
only few days after it had been
lifted to disclose the sinking of at
least 10 enemy ships, the destruction
of more than 200 planes and the
damaging of installations at Truk
by carrier bombers.
Capture of EniWetok, second atoll
In the Marshalls to fall to Ameri-
cans this month, was concluded by
capture of Parry Island after a 12-
hour drive by marines. An estl-
mated 5000 japanese defended Eni-
wetok, with latest reports listing
only % prisoners. That contrasted
with more than $50 japanese prison.
ers taken in the conquest of Kwaja-
lein, $50 miles southeast of Eniwe-
tok. American casualties on both
atolls we're reported to have been
light.
Caroline Targets Bombed.
Eniwetok was invaded last Thurs
day after deadly air and ship pre-
paratory assaults. Its main airbase
of Engebi was engulfed within less
than a day.
Admiral Nimitz also reported that
Ponape and Kusai in the Carolines
were pounded by Army Liberators
Monday, apparently to neutralize
them against interfering with the
impending Mariana stroke. Thirty
tons of bombs blasted the harbor al
Ponape and six tons were dropped
in two raids on the harbor al
Kusai, starting fires.
On the same day, airf1elds, ship
ping and ground installations or
five of the by-passed Eastern
Marshalls were raided by Mitchell
bombers, Navy search planes ano
Warhawk fighters and one atol
was shelled by warships.
"a Japanese Domei Agency
broadcast identified the war
ships target as Taroa, airbase
in Maloelap atoll.
(The Toxic radio said today
Japanese positions on Mill and
Jaluit Islands in the Marshalls
had been attacked yesterday by
American bombers and that Ia
roa had been bombed tuesday,
South of the Marshalls, a Navy
search plane raided the enemy's
phosphate producing island oi
NoIlrl1