U.S. MARINES IN NAHA

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24570, 19 May 1945, Page 7

U.S. MARINES IN NAHA

Okinawa Capital

LITTLE LEFT OF

CITY (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 12.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, May 17. "United States Marines have established themselves Inside Naha, the capital of Okinawa, while in the centre of the line Army troops have made significant advances towards Shnri,” says the Guam correspondent of the “New York Times” , "The Marines crossed the Asato river on the town’s northern edge. They had patrols inside the rained city for some time, bat now they are established in strength. “They face the task of rooting out from the wreckage an enemy who is using every tumbledown wall and every shell hole as a strongpoint from which he will have to be burned out by flame-throwers. 1 , “Meanwhile, the 77th Division threw the enemy off balance by suddenly launching a surprise attack all along the southern Okinawa front. Fighting is fierce, as it has been for weeks, but the advances reported cheered observers who know that every foot of ground taken from the Japanese will be held, and from now on the Japanese can afford less and less to lose territory." The correspondent of the “New York Herald-Tribune” says; “So little remained of Naha city it was difficult to tell the sort of place it had been. Whole blocks along the waterfront were razed by fire, bombs, and artillery. “Lieutenant - Colonel Woodhouse commanded the inarines’ second battalion which withstood so gallantly the fierce Japanese counter-attack on Sugarloaf Hill on Monday. The company on the crest repulsed wave after wave until all were dead or wounded. They fought on until only a few men were left. Then they yielded the summit to the Japanese. Lieutenant-Col-onel Woodhouse had 1000 men when the offensive began six days ago. Now he can count only 250 effective fighting men.” Admiral' Nimilz’s Communique “Last evening a small group of enemy aircraft attempted to attack our forces on and around Okinawa, but failed to cause any damage,” says Admiral Nimitz’s communique. “One enemy aeroplane was destroyed. “Elements of the 6th Marine Division crossed the Asato river and gained a small bridgehead in Naha to-day. During the later afternoon the marines after heavy fighting also captured Sugarloaf hill, several hundred yard's north-east of Takimotoji. Troops of the Ist Marine Division reached Wana town without advance artillery preparation. “Infantrymen of the 77th Army Division made a surprise night attack against enemy position B on high ground in the vicihity of Tshimmi town and reached the outskirts at noon today. In the 96th Infantry Division’s zone of action enemy resistance was heavy in the hill masses eastward of Ishimmi and the ridges running to the south of Conical Hill. Some progress is being made in the destruction of strongpoints. “Up to Tuesday, fleet guns delivered 25,000 tons of ammunition of sin calibre or larger supporting our troops on Okinawa. British Attack Sakl Shim as “British carrier aircraft • heavily bombed *the Saki Shimas yesterday and to-day, damaging or destroying seven aeroplanes on the ground, destroying five cargo ships, and damaging six barges. They severely strafed troopladen motor vehicles. "Mustangs swept the Atsuzi airfield in the vicinity of Tokyo to-day, destroying seven enemy aircraft on the ground. They probably destroyed two and damaged 33 others. One of our aircraft was shot down by intense flak. “Liberators sank an escort vessel in the northern Kuriles, Other aircraft attacked the Marshalls and the Pelew group.’’ The Associated Press correspondent says Marine patrols found Nalia, the capital of Okinawa, a deserted dump of death and ruins. One patrol roamed Naha for five hours and found only one living human—a Japanese who tossed a grenade, wounding two marines. Nearly every building in Naha has been levelled. Meanwhile the battle continues with unabated fury In the southern part of the island.

HARRYING OF JAPANESE

MACARTHUR’S forces

SWEEP OF CHINA SEA

(Rec. 10.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 17 General MacArthur’s communique toys: , . , “The 31st Division in a northward advance over six miles along the central highway of Mindanao the outskirts of Valencia, less than two miles from the main airfield. To the north and east our forces are driving the enemy back into the hills. “Units of the Ist Cavalry Division advanced two miles north along the eastern coast to the southern edge of the Port Lampon anchorage on Luzon, The 43rd Division is drawing its lines tighter round the enemy’s isolated force in the Ipo pocket. In the northern sector the 25th and 32nd Divisions are steadily driving the enemy back on Santa Fe. Adverse weather has precluded large scale air operations. “Australian troops pushing down the Amal river are now less than a mile from the east coast of Tarakan. A minor enemy counter-attack to the north of the city was easily repulsed. “Our heavy and medium bombers supported the Tarakan ground forces and bombed the aerodromes and waterfront at Miri and Kudat, severely cratering the runways. Patrol aeroplanes on coastal sweeps destroyed 15 warehouses at Balik Papan and sank a 1000-ton freighter off the south-east coast. “Heavy bombers attacked Formosa. Patrols swept the China Sea, attacked Canton aerodrome, and destroyed a river boat, a tug, barges, and coastal craft. Heavy bombers attacked the northern Celebes. Coastal patrols destroyed .warehouses, two freighters, and small craft in the Halmaheras. “Australian ground forces in local clashes inland from Wewak forced the enemy to abandon much equipment. Light naval units shelled installations. “Bombers and fighters continued the neutralisation- of eneniy camps, gun positions, and supplies in New Guinea, New Britain, and Bougainville.”

PEACE FEELERS BY JAPANESE

UNOFFICIAL APPROACH (Rec. 11.30.) WASHINGTON. May 17. ‘‘Japanese diplomats and businessmen in neutral capitals are stepping up efforts to find some loophole in the Allied formula of unconditional surrender,” says the Associated Press. “Washington diplomatic quarters are now emphasising the unofficial nature of these activities. “It is reported that ths number of individual and private peace feelers has grown considerably since the Jail of Manila and the invasion of Okinawa. The usual technique is for a Japanese to request a neutral to in* quire among Americans their ‘real ideas’ on peace terms. “There is nothing definite about the inquiries beyond the suggestion that Japan might consider almost anything except unconditional surrender. Washington official circles, however, have not heard anything about specific terms.”