WON BY MARINES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 47, 24 February 1945, Page 7

WON BY MARINES

JAPS LEAP TO DEATH

(By Telegraph—Press Association-- Copyright.) Rec. 10 a.m. WASHINGTON, Feb. 23. In a special communique Admiral Nimitz announced that the marines had raised the United States flag on the summit of Mount Suribachi.

As the marines neared the summit of Mount Suribachi they saw Japanese jump to death from the rim of the crater, reports the Associated Press correspondent on Iwo Jima. The marines are puzzled.by the almcic complete absence of Japanese tanks. They believe the tanks must have been knocked out by the bombardment or that they are being saved for later counter-offensives.

The heavy surf yesterday hampered supply craft. Tne marines reached the rim of Mount Suribachi on the northern, eastern, and western sides of tlie crater at noon today, says a Pacific Ocean area communique. Below, on the volcano's steep slopes, assault teams equipped with flame-throwers are still attacking numerous by-passed enemy strong-points. Marine artillery effectively supported , the drive to the summit.

The troops in the northern sector, after a night in which our lines remained stable frontally, attacked enemy strong-points and moved slowly towards the central Iwo airfield.

The enemy, deploying heavy artillery and mortar fire, offered stiff resistance. We had made small gains by noon in the centre of the line south of the field. Naval gunfire supported the troops all night and this morning.

Heavy carrier aircraft attacked the enemy defences this morning. Meanwhile carrier aircraft raided Chichi Jima and destroyed three and damaged three Japanese planes. Japanese mortars and snipers attacked the unloading operations on the beaches all day.

The Associated Press correspondent reports that Japanese swimmers attempted to attack the American forces on the western side of the island last night, but were mopped up on the beaches this morning.