The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-31
Bases Within 46O Miles Of Philippines Believed ToHave Been Wrecked
BY WILLIAM F. THREE

BY WILLIAM F. THREE
 United Press War COrrespOndentg
 Pearl HarbOr, March 31.- (UP)-A powerful AmericaIA fleet, experimenting the great- est cOOrdinated offensive of the Pacific war, was believed today to have wrecked Japanese bases within 46O miles of the Philippines in heavy attacks that still may be continuing on the Palau Islands.
 While American battles ships, carriers, cruisers and destroyers were making theiE deepest penetration of Japan csc waters since the fall pf the Philippines, U. s. bonab inng bleets from Southwese and Central Pacific baSea blazed a trail of flaming de struction through Truk and other enemy strongholda along an arc stretching 2,6QQ miles from Pa1au to the east ern MarShalls.
 The Naval force launched it's as1 sault on Palau, 1,055 miles west on Truk and nearly 4,0O0 miles soutt west of Hawaii, at dawn WedneSI day (Palau Time) in new attempt to bring the reluctant Japanese navy to battle, but such ships aa were at the islands fled before tlls American warShips could maneuveri into attack positions. T
 Adm. Chester w. Nimitz, ccGn5 mander of the Pacific Fleet, az1r nounced the start of 'heavy att tacks" on Palau in a communique late yesterday. The attacks ,weHe continuing, he said, but added th9t no details were available, preSum ably because of the necessity of maintaining radio silence in enemy waters.
 Hundred of carrler-b based planes were believed to have participated. Coupled with simultaneous aerial thrusts at Truk, the operation tn-I dicated mounting campaign tO keep the Japanese bastion neutral ized while strong carrier forces clear the way for the next amphi- bious move, the nature of which was cloaked in secrecy.
 (Naval observers in Washington regarded the attack as the prelude to an American invasion thrua$ against the Japanese defense sysk tenn in the Carolines, stretching eastward. Most observers doubted a landing would be attempted at this time in the Palau Islands, be- cause it would necessitate long. exposed American supply line ' through the strongly-fortified Ca rolines.)
 The exact size and makeup of the task forces comprising the at tacking fleet was not disclosed, but Nimitz's communique called them strong" and a spokesman said they were similar to those which sank 23 to 29 Japanese ships at Truk in two-day raid last February 16 and IT.
 Japanese search planes from New Guinea and Carolines bases spotted the huge fleet as 1t approached Palau and flashed warning to the islands, enabling ships anchored there to flee before the assault.
 Ships Desert
 Deserted by their protective war ships, the islands presumably were left at the marcy of the attack CTS with only coastal batteries and fighter planes with which to ward off a sea or air bombardment.
 In view of the destruction inflict- ed on the even more strongly-pro- tected Japanese bases of Truk and Saipan by similar task forces last month, observers believed the American fleet probably achieved wide devastation at Palau.
 The raid was the most daring yet attempted by American naval forces and carried them nearly 2,50O miles west of their nearest central Pa cific bases along the invasion route to the Philippines and South China, which NimitZ has proclaimed tO bo his ultimate objective.
 The Palau group of 200 smA heavily wooded islands lies at t0