SAIPAN CAMPAIGN

Grey River Argus, 1 July 1944, Page 5

SAIPAN CAMPAIGN

U.S. Marines’ Hold

OF SOUTHERN AREA (Rec. 8.55) LONDON, June 29. A “New York Times” correspondent as Pearl Harbour says: All organised resistance behind and northwards of the moving American line on Saipan Island has been wiped out, and Marines are holding securely the entire southern area. The enemy’s line is shaped like a rough arrow, with one edge of the point in Garapan, and the other two miles northwards of. Kagman Peninsula, above Magicienne Bay. The P oll }t itself lies in the area of the Tapotchau Mountain, and is exposed to assault by land troops, artillery and aeroplanes. However, the reports from the front say that the terrain is difficult, with enemy forces secured in caves and funnelled net works.

AMERICAN REPORTS. WASHINGTON. June 29:

The U.S. Pacific Fleet reports: Organised resistance at Nafutan Point on Saipan Island ceased on Tuesday and the entire. Point is now occupied. Small gains have been made along the west end of . the shore into the town of Garapan, arid'in the., centre of the island) Our advance northwards is being made against severe resistance. Enemy aircraft dropped bombs in the area we occupied on Tuesday night. Two of we attacking planes were shot down by ''' ' T Carrier aircraft attacked Fagan Island on Tuesday. ’ Barracks and a water reservoir were hit. Only one email plane was seen on the ground and it vzas apparently unserviceable. I Several small craft, badly damaged in previous strikes were hit by rocketfire. , „ Liberators bombed Truk atoll on June 27. Neutralisation raids were carried out in the Marshalls and the Carolines on Monday and Tuesday.

PLANE LOSSES COMPARED (Rec. 1.5) WASHINGTON. June 30. Army\ Navy and Marine flle-rs have destroyed more than 12,000 Japanese planes in the air or on the ground, from Pearl Harbour to May 15, 1944, says a Navy announcement. American losses were 2726. However, 65 per cent, of the Navy airmen shot down have been rescued. The figures do not include Japanese planes shot down by flak, nor enemy ground losses in 1942 and 1943.