PALAU INVASION

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1944, Page 5

PALAU INVASION

PELELIU ISLAND Mastered by Americans WASHINGTON, September 19. On Peleliu Island, in the Palau Group, U.S. Marines silenced Japanese artillery which rained shells on our airstrip from ‘‘Bloody, Nose” ridge. The Japanese are putting up a bitter I fight from caves and pillboxes built into sheer coral cliffs. They are dying by the hundred in these holes. The Marines also have suffered casualties though not comparable with Tarawa or Saipan losses. Mannes have been smoking Japanese out of pillboxes. Thousands of tons of shells and bombs were poured into the Japanese defences. It appears likely that more than half the garrison was wiped out. The stench of decaying bodies is already heavy on the beachhead. On the fourth day, the enemv had still not had a' single plane in the air. The only evidence outside of j counter activity was two barges and a sampan which American airmen smashed at the northern end of Peleliu. Observation planes have begun to operate from Peleliu aerodrome, on e of the best and biggest captured from the Japanese. Marines fighting through a honeycomb of coral ridges discovered Japanese soldiers shackled hand and foot in observation posts and defence positions to ensure that they did not retreat. It is estimated that there are 40,000 Japanese in the northern Palau Islands, but they are powerless to reinforce Peleliu and Angaur.

BATTLE CRISIS PASSED

(Rec. 9.50) WASHINGTON Sept 19 A United Press correspondent at Palau Island say's: The First United States Marine Regiment captured “Bloody Nose Ridge” after the stiffest fight in the marine’s history, and to-nignt the battle for Peleliu is apparently passing the crisis. Marines have now seized their primary objectives on the island. The fall of Bloody Nose Ridge has 1 silenced most of the enemy tire directed at the Peleliu aerodrome, where Seabees are preparing for the arrival of combat aircraft which will permanently nullify those of Palau Islands that have not been invaded such as Koror and Bebethuap. It is estimated that 30,000 Japanese are immobilised on these uninvaded lands. Wreckage of : 117 Japanese aircraft including 77 fighters was found on the aerodrome, which is the finest in the Mandated ■lslands. The marines’ principal joo on Peleliu is to dig out the Japanese on successive ridges which are leading to a cause-way connecting Peleliu with Ngesebus Island. This job is expected to take several days. The Japanese are thoroughly dug in. They are utilising the terrain to full advantage. The Japanese are fighting intelligently, instead of expending men in futile attacks. The Eightyfirst Army Division, after a slow start, suddenly expanded its Angaur bridgehead across four-fifths of the island. Japanese forces are crammed into the north-west and southeast Tips Island where their position is hopeless. A New York “Times’s” correspondent at Palau says: There were fairly light marine casualties in tne first five days. This does not indicate relatively an easy campaign. On the contrary, it has been bitter, with the enemy resisting to death. Furhermore this is probably the most difficult terrain yet encountered in the Central Pacific. However, disadvanages have been considerably nullified by perfected communication between ships' and planes and men at the front. It is a beautiful example of co-ordination, and has been brought to a state of perfection lately with great improvements since the Tarawa landing.

PELELIU UNDER AMERICAN CONTROL.

(Rec. 10.5). NEW YORK, Sept 20. A correspondent, representing combined American radio networks, in the Palau Group, says: United States Marines control virtually the entire island of Peleliu. Only the northern tip of Peleliu remains in enemy hands, he adds, and this does not present a very serious problem. A Pacific Fleet communique states: “Marines made further gains on Peleliu on Monday, securing Ngardolok, a town, and bringing most of the eastern coastal area under control. There is no significant change in American positions in the centre and along the east coast. “Fighting from pillboxes, trenches and other fortifications, the enemy continues to offer stubborn resistance. United States Army, troops now control two-thirds of Angaur Island.” The communique adds that Army Liberators bombed Shumushu Island on Saturday. All the bombers returned. Navy Venturas attacked Shumushu and Paramushiro on Sunday, setting fire to buildings. A small boat, loaded with enemy personnel, and a warship are believed to be destroyed off the east coast of Paramushiro. Several enemy fighters intercepted, one of them being shot down. - JAPANESE ACCOUNT. FIVE U.S. NAVY VESSELS LOST. NEW YORK, September 19. Tokio official radio stated: The Japanese Nav'v has completed the evacuation of civilians from Palau Islands. The evacuation convoy included cruisers and destroyers escorted by planes. The Americans lost one cruiser, one destroyer, one submarine, one minesweeper and one unknown type of ship, sixty, landing craft, 150 tanks and 26 planes. Bitter hand-to-hand fighting continues northward of Peleliu aerodrome. The enemy is still landing reinforcements. U.S.A. MINESWEEPER LOST WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 A Navy communique says that the United States minesweeper, Perry, was sunk as a result of enemy action in the Palau Islands. The casualties were small. The auxiliary transport Noa, was recently sunk in the Pacific as a result of a collision with a destroyer. There were no casualties AMERICAN AIR RAIDS. PHILIPPINES AND SUMATRA. NEW YORK, September 19. Tokio radio stated: Fifty enemy planes, including Liberators and Lightnings, raided Davao. One hundred carrier-based planes raided Korer Island north of Peleliu. Fifty bombers of the American Far Eastern Fleet attacked’ Northern Sumatra'. 29 JAP. SHIPS LOST I W.ASHINGTON, Sept. 19 United States submarines have reported the sinking of a further 2J vessels in the Pacific and Far Bast, savs a Navy’ communique. They com pX two destroyers, one, large , ewg transport, 13 medium caigo vessels, nine small cargo vessel and three medium. _.