SAIPAN FRONT

Grey River Argus, 4 July 1944, Page 5

SAIPAN FRONT

FURTHER ADVANCE

By the Americans

fAus & N.Z. Press Assn.] E WASHINGTON, July 2 Marine Army troops on Saipan Island made small gains in the central sector, says a Pacific Fleet communrque. Advanced patrols on the rign side of our lines have forged ahead for distances of up to one mile io June 30, 80 enemy tanks had been destroyed or captured. G> U1 ’ troops buried 6015 enemy aead and toox Pl M° re r than 200 Arm v Liberators, on Thursday, dropped 70 tons of bombs on Truk atoll. Several enemy fighters ineffectively attempted intercep-, tion. The same day Army and Navy marine aircraft bombed Ponape and Nauru, the remaining objectives in the Marshalls. The Washington correspondent ot the “New York Times says” Mr. Forrestal’s statement about attacking the Japanese mainland means that when we have- consolidated o.ur hold on Saipan from which the Marianas can be controlled, we won’t need additional Pacific bases unless for secondary strategic reasons, and though the green light will be on for big blows against Japan’s vitals, it is improbable that Japan can be invaded for a while. The French invasion pattern demonstrated how overwhelmingly we must build for such a major effort, but it seems logical that, blows from surface ships, carrier-air-craft and further Superfortress attacks may be aimejl at Japanese shores The time also seems ripe to re-establish ourselves m the Philippines and to sit athwart Japan’s communication lines to the Dutch Indies on which the enemy depends is considerable speculation in Washington on Japan’s attitude as the vice tightens. Some experts feel t/ha't JapanY might quit .before her ultimate destruction, but the majority believe she will fight to the end.

“SHOWDOWN” BATTLE

IMMINENT ON, SAIPAN'

(Rec 5.5) NEW YORK, July 2. The Combined American Press correspondent aboard the U.S. flagship, says: A showdown battle for Saipan is imminent to-day, with Marines and Army troops slugging down the jun Med slopes of Mount Tapotchau towards the ’defences 1 surroundilng the remaining core of Japanese resistance. American tanks, half track vehicles and infantry battered slowly into the areas of increasing resistance. The Japanese are using mortars, machine-guns, rifles .and occasionally light tanks, but so far have been unable to stem the superior American manpower. The chief fighting is on Mount Tapotchau s slopes, where the Americans are encircling heavy defences behind Garapan. . . v Marines on the east coast have moved far ahead against little opposition. The northern Garapan and Tanapag harbour installations have been taking a terrible land, sea and air pounding. A huge fire started at Tanapag last Thursday is still blazing. Behind the smoking wreckage the Americans expect to come to grips with the largest concentration of the enemy so far. Timian Island is also receiving a terrible poundinsf (Rec. 7.55.) WASHINGTON, July 2. A Pacific Fleet communique says: Our troops on the right flank of Saipan Island are within five and a-half miles of the northern tip of the island. We occupied the mountain village or Charan Tabute in the centre of the island, and captured large quantities of equipment, including food and munitions. Before dawn on Saturday, several enemy aircraft unsuccessfully attempted to attack our transport and screening vessels. Two enemy aircraft were shot down. (Rec. 10.10.) WASHINGTON. July 3. The Navy announced further advances on the entire Saipan front ranging from five hundred yards to a mile. The Americans entered the capital, Garapan, seizing the heights of the town and Tanapag harbour.