OKINAWA STRUGGLE

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1945, Page 5

OKINAWA STRUGGLE

U.S. GAINS SLIGHT Enemy’s Heavy Resistance (Rec. 8.40). WASHINGTON, May. 10. Admiral Nimitz, in a communique on Thursday, said: Warships and aircraft to-day bombarded southern Okinawa pillboxes and installations. The enemy attacked our shipping oil Okinawa, and damaged two of our auxiliaries. The enemy, repeated the attack to-day, but he did not inflict any damage. Six enemy aircraft were shot down. A Marine fighter plane, with its guns inoperative, destroyed a •Japanese bomber by cutting off its tail with the propeller. In three attacks Sixth Marines bridged and crossed Asa River estuary to-day. Bridge construction has been delayed by the enemy using two human bombs, these causing some damage. Limited gains were made on the Okinawa southern front. The enemy up to Wednesday last lost 3857 killed on Okinawa. Our aircraft operated off Korea, and attacked Truk, Marcus, Chichijima, and Marshall islands. From April 29 to May 5 fifty-seven Japanese were captured, and sixtynine were killed on Iwo Jima. Enemy casualties thereon have reached a. total of 23,244 killed, and 1038 taken prisoners. On May 6 surface forces evacuated 494 Marshall islanders from Juliut atoll. The Japanese garrison there resisted. We lost one Killed and one wounded. JAPANESE ELDER STATESMEN. SETTING UP HOME GUARD. (Rec. 6.30). NEW YORK, May 10. Tokio radio stated: Prime Minister Suzuki called an emergency meeting of the Elder Statesmen to discuss the fate of Germany and also further defence measures. The conference was held shortly after a raid by the greatest Superfortress fleet, yet to attack Japan. It was decided to form a volunteer civilian defence ‘ corps to defend the homeland, to which the conference pledged its wholehearted support. JAPS ON OKINAWA NEW-YORK, May 10. The Tenth Army Commander at Okinawa, Lieutenant General Bruckner, told a Press conference: We will begin to feel the effect of the European victory soon in the service of troops and munitions held in the United States as reserves, but do not expect combat troops for some time. Our original estimate of sixty to eighty thousand Jap troops on Okinawa is believed to be too low. We estimate 36,000 already killed, and there are still 45,000 to 50,000 more to be killed. Don’t look for anything spectacular. We are progressing steadily and killing lots of Japanese. U.S.A. CASUALTIES WASHINGTON, May 10. Mr Stimson estimated the total American Army casualties in an theatres against Germany at approximately 800,000, of whom 150,000 were killed. About half of the wounded have already returned to duty. Seventy to eighty thousand American prisoners are at present returning to the American forces. Over 80,000 had already 'returned to the United States. U.S.A. TROOPS FOR PACIFIC LONDON, May 10. S.H.A.E.F. has announced that the majority of American combat troops beiho- deployed from the European theatre, will go through the United States, but the greater part of the supply system of the American armEuropean theatre. The whole giant supply system of the Aremican armies in Europe already has gone into reverse gear to begin re-deployment. A points system has been introduced, whereby men in various categories and with varying terms of service will, be allotted points. Re-deploy-ment. will largely depend on what points a man holds. WASHINGTON, May 10 One of the biggest air attacks on Japan was made to-day by more than 400 Superfortresses from the Marianas. Raids have also been made by carrier-borne aircraft of the British Pacific Fleet. It is officially announced at the headquarters of the United States 20th Air Force that The latest Superfortress asault was carried out in daylight, the bombers attacking military and industrial areas in the southern tip of Honshu (the main Japanese island) for the first time. Oilfields and fuel supply bases of the Japanese navy and air force were among the targets. Other Superfortresses to-day bombed air installations in Kyushu. FURTHER RAIDS IN JAPAN. (Rec 11.50). WASHINGTON, May 11. The 20th U.S. Air Force announced that two large .fleets of Superfortresses attacked industrial targets in the city of Kobe, and airfields in Kyushu, South Japan.