Saturday, February 5, 2011

Current Events February 5, 1943; JAPANESE PUSH ATTACK IN SOLOMONS / BAD NEWS FEARED IN PACIFIC / AIR OFFENSIVE CONTINUES IN FRANCE / GERMAN ARMIES TRAPPED IN CAUCASUS / 52 PLANES SHOT DOWN IN TUNIS;


                                 San Mateo Times
          SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5,1943

AIR SLUGFEST IN PACIFIC
Thunderbolt Raid on Lorient
Navy Mum as Japs Push
Attack in Solomon Area
Army Captures
Main Landing
On Guadalcanal
WASHINGTON, Feb.5,—(U.P)—The week-long series of
air-Sea engagements in the Solomons, now described by the
navy as '-sporadic encounters," is still continuing, the navy announced
today. It was said, however, that the tempo of the
Japanese air activity over Guadalcanal appeared to be increasing.
And that was all the navy's communique had to say about the action,
which it originally described as a "major effort" by the Japanese
to regain control of the Solomon Islands.
Gains on Guadalcanal

ADMIRAL COMMENTATOR
FEARS BAD PACIFIC NEWS
By REAR ADM. YATES STIRLING JR...U. S. N. (Retired)
(Written for the United Press)
It might be well for the carriers. American public to prepare for
possible had news from the south Pacific. -. The fact that.
Navy Department communiques for days have withheld all information
regarding naval and air engagements in the Solomons
area is somewhat ominous. The navy says no news will be
released as long as such action might jeopardize U. S. forces in
that area, now or in the future. The only news which could be
of great value to the Japanese would be news of American
losses.
Although our gallant navy and air forces have won several
victories against the Japanese, at no time since Pearl Harbor
have our naval forces in the Pacific
been equal numerically to the Japanese. Unquestionably,
that still holds true—that we are outnumbered in the present battle
area, particularly in aircraft carriers.

Non-Stop Air
Offensive on
Axis Continues
LONDON, Feb. 5.—(U,P.)—The
Royal Air Force carried the allied non-stop aerial offensive to
France again today; following up heavy night attacks on Turin
and Spezi. in Northeastern Italy, the industrial Ruhr in
Germany, and the U-boat base at Lorient on the coast of
France.
Southeast coast watchers reported that many RAF squadrons
crossed the channel to France this afternoon, flying high in the clouds.
visibility was "exceptionally good.
German Reprisal
Germany made another of its weak daylight reprisals. Four
raiders bombed and machinegunned a south coast town this afternoon,
damaging many houses and causing some casualties. One
enemy plane was believed shot down into the sea.

RUSSIAN TRAP CLOSES
BELOW CITY OF ROSTOV
MOSCOW, Feb. 5.—(U.P)—Russia closed the jaws of a trap
on the German army of the. Caucasus today and wiped out 7 more
encircled remnants of another trapped enemy army on the Kursk
front, 280 miles south of Moscow. Driving westward below the Yeya;
river after cutting off the last30 miles means of escape by railroad for the
enemy Caucasus army by taking Kushclicvka, and then capturing
Staro Minskaya, 27 miles to the west, the Russians were nearing
Sea of Azov coast.

52 AXIS PLANES SHOT
DOWN IN TUNISIA IN DAY
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, North Africa, Feb. 5.—(U.P.)—
Led by American Flying Fortresses, allied aircraft destroyed
52 enemy planes over Tunisia yesterday, against a loss of only 10
of their own, headquarters disclosed today.

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