Okinawa

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24545, 19 April 1945, Page 4

Okinawa

For the last fortnight there have been no rapid advances on Okinawa, Invaded almost three weeks ago. Even though this main island of the Riukius had been, softened under the longest and heaviest preinvasion bombardment of the Pacific war, General, Buckner's 10th Army expected the price of its initial assault to be as heavy as any hitherty) paid. Instead, the landing was made “without a shot “being fired.” As they rapidly expanded their bridgehead on the west coast, the Americans met only an occasional Japanese. By nightfall they had occupied three airfields and were within eight miles of Naha, the capital. On the second day, while General Geiger’s 3rd Amphibious Corps struck north up the coastal road towards the Motohu Peninsula, General Hodge’s 24th Corps completed Its eastward drive across the waist of the, island. Until the sixth day of the invasion, communiques and correspondents continued to speak of rapid and sensational gains; and till then the invasion had gone, *as General Hodge said, “ far better than our wildest "dreams.” More than one-sixth of the island was in American hands. Since then the conquered area has spread very little, with the major gains won by the 3rd Amphibious Corps in the northern sector. In the scuth, the first major line ">f resistance, met in the first week, hi. still to be overcome. Across the six miles of rugged country between Naha, on the west coast, and Yonabaru, on the east, lies a system of concentric defence lines, with the village of Shuri at the core. Virtually every strongpoint must be frontally attacked. Kakazu ridge and Ouki, two points at which the 24th jCorps has bitten into, the outermost line before Shuri, are still in enemy hands. Three times the Americans have taken Kakazu, but each time they have been driven off. Until the battle for

Kakazu Is won, progress towards Naha is blocked. But though a deadlock has fallen on the southern sector, the campaign has achieved notable gains. It has brought into their last action Japan’s most powerful battleship,. the 45,000-tori Yamato, and five of her escorts; the enemy’s air force has continued to lose heavily and disproportionately: end the islands of Tsugen, Keufu, and Ije have recently been seized. These are small islands. But they are important in a campaign that depends on air support. The enemy’s air attacks are being pressed persistently. ' They have done some damage to the naval forces supporting the 10th Army; and in strengthening the defences to ward off enemy air attacks the small islands round Okinawa are particularly valuable. Ije, the capture of which was reported yesterday, is a rich prize with its four-strip airfield. Nor will airfields- such as Ije be used only to defend. The enemy commander on Okinawa has won time in the last fortnight. But it is time that the Americans also have used profitably. Ije, Keufu, and Tsugen will have their part in breaking the deadlock.