SAIPAN OPERATIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 212, 19 June 1944, Page 4

SAIPAN OPERATIONS.

JAPANESE COUNTER-ATTACK. TWENTY-FIVE TANKS GONE (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 2.15) WASHINGTON, June IS. _ The Japanese launched an amphibious counter-attack against our forces at Saipan early on Saturday morning, says a Pacific Fleet communique. A group of troop-carrying barges attempted a landing south of Garnpan, but was repulsed by our armed landing craft. Thirteen enemy barges were sunk.

It is reported from NeAV York that alternatively smashing down Japanese counter-attacks and attacking across shell-torn canefields in southern Saipan Island, American assault troops advanced halfway across Japan’s most heavily-fortified island in the Marianas.

The Associated Press correspondent at Pacific Fleet Headquarters says that 25 Japanese tanks were wiped out and heavy casualties inflicted when the enemy determinedly counterattacked before dawn on Friday. After sunrise marines and infantry; men renewed their advance, captured Hinashishu village, and drove to the edge of Aslito aerodrome, tAvo miles from the original beachhead. By nightfall the advance had averaged 1500 yards along the American front of 5£ miles.

An aged American destroyer stole the spotlight from the battleships by sinking, unaided, five enemy coastal freighters. Since the beginning of the operations on Saipan and Oaon 21 Japanese ships have been sunk. The Japanese garrison at Saipan is estimated at 30,000.