ENEMY STAND ON OKINAWA

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24591, 13 June 1945, Page 7

ENEMY STAND ON OKINAWA

Call To Surrender Refused MORE GAINS BY AMERICANS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Ree. 11 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 11. More important advances in both sectors of the front on Okinawa Island, in the Riukius, have been made by the United States forces, Lieutenant-General S. B. Buckner called upon the Japanese to surrender, but the enemy commander refused. In spite of the hopelessness of their position, the remaining pockets of resistance are holding; out tenaciously and are apparently determined, according to one correspondent, to fight to the last man. To-day's communique from Admiral Numtz's headquarters says:— "The 10th Army made substantial progress to-day against enemy pockets on Oroku Peninsula and fortified positions in southern Okinawa meeting heavy fire in all areas. Our troops made important advances in both sectors. "The 6th Marine Division captured two hills north-east of Tomigusuku and made attacks which reduced the enemy-controlled area on Oruku Peninsula to a pocket on the south bank of Naha harbour. Japanese marines and naval landing forces in this pocket continue to resist strongly. "In southern Okinawa the Ist Marine Division's right flank advanced about 050 yards along the coast against light resistance, the division's left flank moving up about 400 yards to a hill west of Ozato. The 96th Infantry Division, fighting off numerous attacks by defenders in caves, gained control of a small area on the top of the Jaejudake escarpment, about 600 yards south of Yunagusuku. Tanks knocked out enemy emplacements. With tank support, the 32nd Regiment of the 7th Division occupied Summit Hill, southwest of Hanagusuku, overcoming bitter resistance. Artillery fire is being brought to bear on the escarpment before the 7th Division's front. "Lieutenant-General Buckner has called upon the enemy force commander to surrender. "Search seaplanes damaged two luggers in the Yellow Sea. Other aircraft sank a small cargo ship and other small shipping off Honshu, and damaged four small ships off Paramushiro. Our aircraft have also bombed targets on Paramushiro, Onekotan Island, and Araido Island. There has been minor enemy sircraft activity over Okinawa. We destroyed three of the attacking planes. "Corsairs have swept airfields in Kyushu (Japan), destroying 11 planes on the ground and one in the air." "The Lost World" "Front line dispatches report that American infantry have driven a wedge, into the strong hill defences in the 'Lost World section of Okinawa, where the Japanese are screaming defiance as they shower grenades and mortar fire from the edges of the lofty Jaejudake plateau," says the Guam correspondent of the Associated Press "The slopes of the steep cliffs leading up to the plateau, which is three miles across, are still disputed, with the Japanese dug in in their caves challenging the Americans to come and dig them out. An officer of the 7th Division, discussing the fighting round Hill 95, which is the south-eastern anchor of the plateau's defences, said: 'The Japanese have definitely reorganised their forces there to defend the area in a last stand. The Americans will be digging the Japanese out of this area for two months.' "A 10th Army artillery colonel said that shore-based guns had fired almost 1.500,000 shells, weighing 62.384 tons, on to Okinawa to June 7. This is additional to naval gunfire, which has now possibly totalled' nore than 35.000 tons. One American warship on June 8 fired more than 2400 rounds at the Japanese positions on the Jaejudake escarpment, fighter-bombers had heaped on the enemy tens of thousands of pounds of bombs, rockets, and incendiaries. "American soldiers and marines are using flame-throwing tanks with 500foot extension hoses, which the troops carry to the mouth of the caves in order to ppur in liquid fire at close range. Tanks carry more liquid fire than the hand containers, but they need a strong covering fire. The Japanese have increased their artillery fire. They are using ap to 105 mm. guns, and some 75's are set so far back in the caves that they had to be destroyed with grenades, demolition charges, and flamethrowers, because | the artillery could not reach them.'