Kiska Warmed Up

In their icy tundra dugouts the 10,000 to 12,000 isolated Jap defenders of Kiska were warmed up last week by heavy bombardments from the sea, first since the U.S. Navy raided this Jap-held Aleutian base nearly a year ago. Now, when heavy fogs had slowed up the air force's shuttle-bombing, the Navy stepped in again.

In the first attack a sizable task force cruised offshore, pouring round after round of high explosive on the rocky island. No answering flashes came from the shore batteries. Perhaps the Japs, anticipating invasion, did not want to give away their guns' location. Perhaps U.S. battleships which supported the Attu landings were still with the Aleutian fleet; their 14-in. guns would outrange the Jap batteries. But the second shelling, by a single smaller warship, roused the enemy to reply. Results: to the warship, no damage; to the Japs, gun positions revealed. A third shelling brought no reply.

It was hardly likely that bombardment alone could shake the Japs loose from Kiska. Like moles, they would have to be ferreted out with sharper weapons.

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