Current Events April 4, 1942; AMERICAN WARSHIPS LOST NEAR JAVA

REGISTER STAR NEWS

SANDUSKY, OHIO, SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1942

FLYING FORTRESSES AID ALLIES IN BURMA

Enemy Warships Hard Hit; New Bombardments Noted

On Philippine War Front

BY UNITED PRESS

American flying fortresses stiffened the allied front in the battle for Burma today but

Japanese shock troops were again pressing a costly advance toward the oil fields north of

Prome

The first blows struck by big United States bombers under direction of Major General

Lewis H. Broreton in India, fell on enemy warships and transports in the Andaman

islands south of Burma in the Bay of Bengal and on the approach to India.

One cruiser and a troop ship were hit and set afire and two other troop ships were

believed damaged by the flying fortresses, which defied Japanese anti-aircraft fire and

fought off enemy planes.

American Vessels, Lost

In Indian Ocean, Fought

Even With Decks Awash

SAN FRANCISCO, April 4 (UP)—The aircraft tender,

U. S. S. Langley, and the Navy tanker, Pecos, went down

fighting in a 50-hour running battle with Japanese bombers

in the Indian ocean south of Java.

Survivors of the Langley were aboard the Pecos when

the tanker was sunk and there thrown into the water for

the second time in three days.

Commander R. P. McConnell .Oakland, Cal., commanding officer

of the Langley, and Commander E. P. Abernethy, Oklahoma City,

of the Pecos, told the story of the engagements, which took place

between Feb. 27 and March 1.