TANKS AND PLANES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 135, 9 June 1945, Page 7

TANKS AND PLANES

EMPLOYED;ON OKINAWA

WASHINGTON, June 8. imuroving weather in the Okinawa area today permitted the large use-of aircraft and tanks in support of 10th Army troops as they continued. their effort to clear the Oruku Peninsula and drive into the Jaejudake escarpments, says Admiral Nimitz's communique. The 6th Marine Division moving slowly south-eastward against ma-chine-gun and heavy weapons in entrenched positions gained about 200 yards on the ,left flank. The Ist Marine Division captured Hill 108, westward of. Dakiton Town against strong opposition. Advanced elements drove to the vicinity of the west coast about 900 yards northward of Itonan Town, the division s centre and right flank advancing through a series of ridges towards Zawa Town. The.96th Infantry Division, using tanks/advanced about 1000 yards through the hills north-eastward of Yuza Town. Elements of the 7th Division landed at »Oshima, near Monatoga Cove today. Resistance was reported light. ; ' . ' The enemy casualties on Okinawa up to yesterday are estimated at 66.324 killed. General Mac Arthur's communique says that units of the 37th Division pushing swiftly down the Cagayan Valley, captured Bambang Town, 10 miles north of Aritao, and advanced^ further three miles in the face of light resistance. Large quantities of food and medical supplies were captured. In the central sector U.S. forces cleared the enemy from defended positions in the .mountain ranges east of Manila. Forces on Mindanao, supported by dive-bombers, continued the steady attrition of enemy personnel and irreplaceable stocks of^ supplies, making limited gains against increasing resistance.