SUBSTANTIAL GAINS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 255, 25 July 1944, Page 5

SUBSTANTIAL GAINS

Progress On Guam ' WASHINGTON, July 23. The Americans on Guam made substantial gains during Friday night and Saturday, capturing all Cabras Island, in the northern area, and the town of Piti, says a Pacific Fleet communique. The enemy, who attempted to infiltrate our lines on Friday night, has been repulsed in the southern area. Grote Peninsula has been nearly cut off by our forces, who are closely supported by aircraft and naval gunfire. The American casualties to Saturday were 34S killed, 1500 wounded and 110 missing. Intense artillery and naval gunfire has been directed against enemy gun positions and troop concentrations on Tinian Island. Thunderbolts strafed and bombed the gun emplacements on Tinian, and the air-strip on Pagan Island. Intense flak over Pagan Island damaged two of our- aircraft. Liberators dropped 715 tons of bombs on the airfield and d'oek areas of Truk atoll, starting fires and explosions. Two air-borne enemy lighters did not attempt interception. The Japanese radio says that American losses on Guam total more than 6000. including 1200 dead counted after a fierce Japanese counter-atack in and round) Asan Bay on Saturday evening. The Japanese are fiercely resisting and bitting fighting is going on, the radio says. • ..