Current Events March 12, 1944;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY MARCH 12, 1944:

Southwest Pacific, Sunday, March 12. (UP) —

Allied bombers have heaped new destruction upon Japan's crumbling Bismark archipelago air bases in widespread attacks while hardened American troops on Bougainville island In the Solomons killed 100 Japanese in repulsing an enemy attack against U. S. defenses. Gen. Douglas MacArthur announced today.

 NEW DELHI, March 11. (UP)—

Two thousand Japanese troops have been exterminated In the Hukawng Valley of northern Burma where American tanks, manned by U. S. and Chinese Crews, have broken the back of enemy resistance, it was officially announced today.

 WASHINGTON. March 11. (UP)

The state department made It clear tonight that the United States Is not now committed to abstain from the use of military force to stamp out espionage by Axis agents operating under Irish protection.

ABOARD A U. S. AIRCRAFT CARRIER IN THE CENTRAL

PACIFIC, March 6. (UP) —

Brilliant teamwork of a group of Hellcat pilots and a navy scout observation flier saved a young American pilot from death, or capture, when his fighter crashed inside Truk lagoon during the American assault on that base February 17.

 RENO, NEVADA, SUNDAY MORNING. MARCH 12, 1944

2,000 JAPANESE

LIQUIDATED IN

BURMAVALLEY

Yanks, Chinese Use

Tanks Through

Jungles

NEW DELHI, March 11. (UP)—

Two thousand Japanese troops

have been exterminated In the Hukawng Valley of northern Burma where American tanks, manned by U. S. and Chinese Crews, have broken the back of enemy resistance, it was officially announced today.

Front dispatches quoted Lt. Gen. Joseph W. Stillwell, commander of the combined American-Chinese forces, as predicting that the entire Juknwng valley, eventual gateway to western China, soon will be in Allied hands,

Mopping Up

"The fight for Naingkwan and Walawbum is won and only Isolated mopping up remains, Stillwell announced in a triumphant press release yesterday.

HEAVY ATTACK

COSTS ENEMY

HUNDRED DEAD

101 Bombs Poured on

Rabaul Without

Opposition

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS,

Southwest Pacific, Sunday, March

12. (UP) —

Allied bombers have heaped new destruction upon Japan's crumbling Bismark archipelago air bases in widespread attacks while hardened American troops on Bougainville island In the Solomons killed 100 Japanese in repulsing an enemy attack against U. S. defenses. Gen. Douglas MacArthur announced today. Rabaul, the once-powerful New Britain island naval and air base, was the principal target Thursday when Solomons-based heavy and medium bombers, flying without fighter escort, poured 101 tons of, explosives Into the bomb-cratered airfields and the battered town and waterfront area and met no fighter opposition, strengthening indications that the Japanese had given up hope of holding RabauL

Blast Lorenjau

Other bombers turned to the Admiralty Islands, where Americans are consolidating their hold on Los Ncgros Island, and dumped 90 tons of bombs on the Lorengau airdrome and other targets. on

Manus island. There have been no reports of Japanese planes at Lorengau but the air raids appeared planned to knock the field completely out of use.

"I believe we have .killed. 2000 Japanese in this operation alone, which is good news in any language except Japanese," he said.

FDR MESSAGE

IN 1942 IS

RE-PRINTED

De Valera Misquoted

U. S. in Answering

Ouster Demand

WASHINGTON. March 11. (UP)

The state department made It clear tonight that the United States Is not now committed to abstain from the use of military force to stamp out espionage by Axis agents operating under Irish protection.

Set Record Straight

In a move to set the record straight, the department republished In full the text of a message transmitted by President Roosevelt to Irish Prime Minister Eamon de Valera on Feb. 20.1912,

In which this country's attitude toward Eire's neutrality at that time was fully stated.

The republication was prompted by de Vnlera's statement of yesterday—In r e j e c t i n g  this

country's request that Eire expel Axis diplomats who have been carrying on espionage agents

jeopardizing American lives—that the United States has

pledged not to lnvade Ireland.

President Roosevelt's 1942 message, in response to Irish protests against the dispatch of American troops to the British Iles, clearly

dealt only with the circumstances then operating.

, "The decision to dispatch troops to the British Isles," the President said two years ago, "was reached In close consultation with the British government as part of our strategictegle plan to defeat the Axis aggressors.

Not Slightest Thought

"There was not, and is not now the slightest thought or intention of Invading Irish territory or threatening Irish security.

"Far from-Constituting a threat to Ireland, the presence of these troops In neighboring territory can only contribute to the security of Ireland and of the whole British

Isles, as well as furthering our total war effort."

Three Hours Inside

Jap Base Of Truk

Editor'! Note: An American pilot actually spent nearly three hours Inside the

Japanese base of  Truk flter he was shot down. United Press War Correspondent

George E. Jonei. who accompanied the task force, revealed In the following

account of the pilots  thrilling rescue.

By GEORGE  E. JONES

•United Press War Correspondent

ABOARD A U. S. AIRCRAFT CARRIER IN THE CENTRAL

PACIFIC, March 6. (UP) —

Brilliant teamwork of a group of Hellcat pilots and a navy scout observation flier saved a young American pilot from death, or capture, when his fighter crashed inside Truk lagoon during the American assault on that base February 17.

The pilot, Lieut, (jg) George M. Blair of Sewickley, Pa,, was picked up by a navy float plane at the height of our blistering attack on Truk, and eventually returned to his carrier.

So far as is known, he is the only American who has obtained such a close view of this enemys

fortress. Had he been captured alive while swimming 'about the lagoon—a Jap destroyer menaced him from a mile's distance — he might have been killed or tortured for his part In the attack which caused a major shakcup in the Japanese military administration.

That Blair escaped, naval air officers said, could be attributed to the perseverance and  bravery

of his fellow pilots and of Lieut, (jg) D. F. Baxter, Sunnytown, Tenn, who risked his neck to land his slow,, vulnerable float plane Inside the lagoon and pick up the exhausted and shivering pilot.

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