Current Events April 4, 1944;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY APRIL 4, 1944;

WASHINGTON, April 4.— (AP) —

All Jap ships caught at anchor Palau, Woleai and Yap were sunk or damaged, by an American task force raiding those enemy bases.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC, April 4.—(AP)—

General MacArthur's airmen have struck at nine important targets on a 1000-mile arc and his foot soldiers on Bougainville today claimed a complete victory over a once-strong enemy garrison.

LONDON, April 4.—(INS)—

Military observers take a serious view of the Jap penetration Into India and do not share the optimistic belief which London papers report prevails in Washington, that the Pacific war will end fairly quickly

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS,

Naples. April 4.—(AP)—Big bombers of the 15th airforce subjected Bucharest to its first U. S. bombardment today.

LONDON, April 4.-(AP)

British empire casualties in the first four years of war were 667,159, including

158,741 killed. Prime Minister Churchill announced in Commons today.

(American army and navy casualties at latest announcements were 173.239 in about 27 months of war, including 40,657 killed, 64.058 wounded, 36,321 missing, and 32,163 prisoners of war. The U. S. figure, included army casualties up through last March 15.)

 

TUESDAY. APRIL 4, 1944 FOURTEEN PAGES THREE CENTS

U. S. Subs Sink

14 More Jap

Vessels

WASHINGTON, April 4.— (AP) —

All Jap ships caught at anchor Palau, Woleai and Yap were sunk or damaged, by an American task force raiding those enemy bases.

Navy Secretary Knox reported today. Knox said there was no way to estimate the number of ships that were caught. In addition to those hit In the lagoons, he said, one Jap warship was sunk "near Palau and two near Woleai."

The secretary's mention of Woleai and Yap was the first disclosure that the task force hitting in Jap Caroline Island territory had struck those two points. Woleai has a unusually good anchorage. Yap another Jap base, has been used principally as a communication center.

SMALL LOSSES

Knox said that first reports of the strike which began March 3 and continued through April 1 indicated that our air losses were eight fighters, 11 bombers and eight torpedo bombers. There was no indication in original reports of any damage to the American warships.

MacArthur

Airmen Blast

9 Jap Points

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS,

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC, April 4.—(AP)—

General MacArthur's airmen have struck at nine important targets on a 1000-mile arc and his foot soldiers on Bougainville today claimed a complete victory over a once-strong enemy garrison.

Some of the air strikes seemed part of the continuing pattern of hitting at bases of possible Jap air

strength which might be rushed to the defense of Palau.

Part of the job of keeping enemy air power off the back of this fleet went to MacArthur's airmen, who bombed by-passed Truk at dawn Saturday. Patrol planes flying from the Solomons bombed Dublon, -a prime base in the Truk fortresses. It was the tenth strike against Truk in five days.

Japs’ India Drive

Termed Serious

By CEARK LEE

International News Service Staff Correspondent

LONDON, April 4.—(INS)—

Military observers take a serious view of the Jap penetration Into India and do not share the optimistic belief which London papers report prevails in Washington, that the Pacific war will end fairly quickly

Skilled commentators describe the Jap drive into India as a full-scale attempt to cut our aerial supply line to China. To accomplish this, the enemy must establish forward air bases within range of the fields from which our transports operate.

If successful, the Japs would be in a position to raid the ports and railheads through which supplies for the air force bases are furnished.

The Japs also aim to drive us from areas of India from which we might mount amphibious operations against Malaya and Burma. The Japs know of -Admiral Mountbatten's amphibious experience, and foresee an eventual Allied operation across the Bay of Bengal threatening

Rangoon and Singapore after first occupying or paralyzing the Andaman islands.

FLEET MASSED.

To counteract such a move, the Japs are reported .to have massed a large part of their fleet in Singapore, effectively stymieing us for the time being _ at least until additional heavy American and British naval units are freed to deal with the Jap surface vessels.

RAF Keeps

Up Bombing

Of Budapest

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS,

Naples. April 4.—(AP)—Big bombers of the 15th airforce subjected Bucharest to its first U. S. bombardment today.

The Liberators and Fortresses, attacking "in considerable strength " and accompanied by Lightning and Mustang fighters, struck Bucharest only 24 hours after they had given a similar drubbing capital of Hungary. to Budapest,

Like Budapest, Bucharest has become important to German defenses of eastern Europe, and great quantities of war materiel have been pouring through both rail centers. Sandwiched between the American attacks was a night assault by R. A. F. Wellingtons and Liberators

on Budapest.

Casualties

667,159 For

British Empire

LONDON, April 4.-(AP)

British empire casualties in the first four years of war were 667,159, including

158,741 killed. Prime Minister Churchill announced in Commons today.

(American army and navy casualties at latest announcements were 173.239 in about 27 months of war, including 40,657 killed, 64.058 wounded, 36,321 missing, and 32,163 prisoners of war. The U. S. figure, included army casualties up through last March 15.)

109,101 CIVILIANS

Churchill said civilian casualties in the United Kingdom for the four years were 109,101, including 49.730killed and 59,371 wounded sufficiently to be hospitalized.

Merchant seamen casualties on British ships were 30,314, including 26,317 known and presumed dead, and 3997 internees 

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