TARAWA VICTORY

Grey River Argus, 1 December 1943, Page 5

TARAWA VICTORY

Costly for Marines ENEMY FIRE MOST CONCENTRATED. [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 10.20) PEARL HARBOUR, Nov. 29. Major General (Mi’cTiere-Smith. commander of U.S. amphibious forces, when asked how Marines were able to take Tarawa in 76 hours told the press: “It was our will to die.” He added that the Marines in spite of their heavy casualties, were now itching for another action, and indeed had asked: “Where do we go from here.” General McTiere-Smith said that nothing but the direct hit of a two thousand-pound bomb would destroy the Japanese concrete blockhouses. He also expressed the opinion that longer and more concentrated preliminary bombing was necessary to avoid over-heavy losses. He said: “The J'apanese gunfire was so concentrated that I counted one hundred and five dead Marines in a space of less than 20 yards.”