U.S. Navy Department (August 9, 1944)
Joint Statement
For Immediate Release
August 9, 1944
The following joint Anglo‑American statement on submarine and anti-submarine operations is issued under the authority of the President and the Prime Minister:
The number of German U‑boats sunk during the war now exceeds 500. It is therefore understandable that the U‑boats still operating are extremely cautious. Their efforts have been ineffective during July, a month which has been so important for the success of continental operations.
The number of U‑boats destroyed has been substantially greater than the number of merchant ships sunk. Seventeen U‑boats have been sunk while attempting to interfere with our cross‑channel traffic since the first landing of the Army of Liberation.
The U‑boat fleet is still of impressive size, nevertheless the U‑boat remain the hunted rather than the hunters. They have been attacked from the Arctic to the Indian Ocean, aircraft playing a great part with the surface forces. This pressure will be maintained until all chances of revival of the U‑boat campaign are killed, whatever may be the new devices and methods developed by the enemy.
The Nazi claims of sinkings continue to be grossly exaggerated. For instance, their claim for June, the latest month for which complete figures are available, was an exaggeration of a 1,000 percent.
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 110
All of Guam Island with the exception of a small area inland from Pati Point on the east coast was occupied by U.S. forces on August 8 (West Longitude Date). The remaining pocket of enemy resistance is surrounded and is under heavy pressure. A naval patrol maintained off the northern coasts of Guam since our troops began their northward drive is believed to have prevented virtually all enemy attempts at escape.
Nauru Island was attacked several times from the afternoon of August 6 to the early morning of August 7 by Ventura search planes of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two. Runways were the principal targets. Moderate anti-aircraft fire was encountered. A Liberator search plane of Fleet Air Wing Two strafed buildings and anti-aircraft guns at Wake Island, another Navy Liberator bombed Truk, and two search Liberators bombed the airfield at Ponape on August 7. Wotje, Jaluit, and Maloelap Atolls in the Marshalls were attacked by Dauntless dive bombers and Corsair fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing on August 7. We lost no planes in these operations.
