OKINAWA BATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 25470, 28 April 1945, Page 8

OKINAWA BATTLE

JAP. KEY POSITIONS CAPTURED

SECOND " STONE WALL " BREACHED

WASHINGTON.. April 26,

The Guam correspondent of the Associated Press says American troop* fought from captured key positions in Southern Okinawa into the- Japanese secondary " stone wall," beyond which Major-general Hodges .saw- ultimate victory. The Jnipancse have been driven from all the key positions in the first heavily-fortified defence zone. General Hodges expressed the opinion that when the second defence ring is broken 'the inner circle about Nairn should be smashed 'without too much trouble, although the Japanese in that area are the most intelligent he has yet encountered. Admiral Nimitz's communique today says: " Troops of the Twenty T fourth Army Corps moved forward and secured positions on high ground west of Urasoe and Mrra. Battleships and cruisers continued to give close support. Th,e ships' guns destroyed a number of batteries, emplacements, structures and caves. Aircraft from carriers and marine p!anes attacked enemy installations in the southern sector of the island in the early hours to-day. A few enemy aircraft approached our forces around- Okinawa and one was shot'down. "Yesterday carrier aircraft continued the neutralising attacks against arifields and installations on the SakHiimas. To-day . search '. aircraft strafed and sank a numher of fishing craft, a small picket boat, and a torpedo boat, and damaged a number of small craft east of Kyushu. Hel'-divers struck Yap airfield, fighters bombed targets ill the Palaus, and dive-bomb-ers continued the neutralising attacks on the Marshalls. Yesterday search privateers bombed fuel .and ammunition storage areas, on Wake Island."