Kodiak mirror., 1945-12-01
MACARTHUR MOVES UP

THE war in Europe swept along on single, ma l siye fronts; in the Pacific, in 1943, it travee piecemeaL little island by little island
 Mosf of AmerIcas men and supplies were mo ing into position against Hitler. Ana While son Americans decried the strategy that gave the Nag priority on the knockout list. MacArthur all nounced his plan to get back to the Philppin fastest at the lowest cost.
 If would involve he said, "the continuous, calct lated application of air power employed ln t most intimate tactical and Iogistical union wi ground troops" The result would be swift, ma siye strokes rather than dilatory and costly slan to-isIand adyancee There would be overWhemH attacks against the enemy key positions whi lesser ones were left to wither on the vine
 Iii was not long before MacArthur's air office General George C. Kenney, demonstrated Aca culated air power" On March 2, Kenneys aifmt sighted convoy swinging into Huon Gulf m Ne Guinea They moved out to meet It. Medufh ti light bonlbers raced over the convoy at mast-u level Their bombs hit the water horfZontaiiy al bounced into the tragets. This was skip -bombin
 The Battle of the Bismarck Sea cost the Jap nese 22 ships, 6l planes and l5009 men hena. lost four planes and 13 creWmen 1t was one or a wars most decisive victories,
 What was meant by swift, massive strokes set also became apparent. By March MaeAFthur W in complete control of the Mombare River area New Guinea; in June he moved onto WoedlarK lsia, off New Guinea's east tip and sent forces una Admiral Haisey to Rendova and New Georgta
  under Admiral w L. Ainsworth trapped conv' riding the Tokyo Express sea lane Tn the hu Gulf and sank 13 to Is cruisers and destroyers Ma Arthur was landing on Munda Tn August he we into VeIla LaveIIa and Arundel in the Solomon
 Meanwhile the last of the AleutIans was pa in U S hands. force landed on kIska to o' cover the Japs had fled before sea and air pressa that had already knocked out their companion roc hold at Attu amid bitter land fighting at Massae Bay and around hilly Chicagof harbor-
 By September MacArthur was stepping Iafeh along New Guinea as his ground troops captdf SaIamlaua and paratroops leaped down to grasp LS A ten-day campaign won Finschhafens he nov up to the Treasury Islands, Kolombangafa. d BougaInvilie in the Solomons.
 The fighting often was bitter, for the Jdpaie were shrewd and determined. They crept stealthily behind Allied lines at night and Slief' killed sleeping troops they tied themselves to gre and snipedS they spoke phrases in English ana Vlf opened fire in the direction of the answering fai But the Americans and Anzacs soon learned eo th tect themselves agalnst such tricks, and as th materIef superiority increased they could stffhe force slash the foe seize the position, Stfehgoh it. and move on before pFotracted jungle opefaeiO would be involved
 As the Allies climbed up the SolomoHs ahf dio New Guinea, it became obvious that the sttn to knock out Rabauf on New BritaIn. tne Japanese naval and air base in the Soaeh fdea When the menace. of Rabauf ceased to eHSt' , way would be cleared into the central Fach Bombers from the newly won bases coaVeis ss"