HIGH U.S. LOSSES

Grey River Argus, 15 May 1945, Page 5

HIGH U.S. LOSSES

IN OKINAWA BATTLE Japs. Fsg'htiiig More Grimly (Rec. 7.40). WASHINGTON, May 13Admiral Nimitz s communique states: Japanese forces atiempte >. landing behind the A n l ericar L? the Machinato airfield on Okinawa. The attempt was broken up. num ber of enemy boats were d^ str g ac L ship and shore gunfire. On Sunday, however, heavy fighting continued on Okinawa. The U.S. Tenth Army continued to attack approaches to Shuri. There were few changes in the western sector. I here the Sixth Marines Division is meeting stilt opposition. Marines have been moving toward high ground protecting Uhun, after smashing an enemy counter-at-tack, in which a hundred Japanese were killed. An attack by the 24th Army Corps gained 300 yards on their right flank, and 600 on their left flank. The 77th Division is also meeting strong resistance in advancing on high ground east of Shuri. The ground troops were supported all day on Sunday by heavy air strikes from aircraft carriers, and Marine , aircraft. American naval guns continue to bombard enemy areas. A few enemy planes approached the American forces on Okinawa early on Sunday morning. They, caused no damage. A'“New York Times” correspondent on Okinawa stated: Dogged persistence by advancing infantry, who often drew tire from five different angles, gained, a few more precious yards on Okinawa. Our patrols reached the outskirts of Naha, but S’/uri is apparently the centre of the Japanese defensive system, and it is here that the decisive battle for the island must be fought. Our infantrymen's progress is difficult. The Japanese are making us pay heavily for every yard taken. We ate fighting for high ground, which has been subjected to a systematic and continuous pounding from our bombs, artillery, and naval guns. But when Americans make an attempt to advance as a group, they immediately, are brought under a devastating enemy fire. One hundred mortar bombs landed among omy off our ?-egiments in four minutes. One American tank company was sent in to clean up pillboxes on a ridge with 21 tanks. Thev finished the day with only seven of the tanks still serviceable. The enemy are deeply dug in on, the reverse slopes of hills. There they are invulnerable to direct fire, and also are well protected from bombs. Our air force, which is unchallenged, struck all day, on Sunday in support of our troops with bombs and rockets. Our ships from both sides of Okinawa Island bombarded the enemy areas, in addition to our ground artillery attacks. In spite of this the Japanese bombed artillery and directed mortar fire into our lines with such a volume and such accuracy that it was impossible to move up any supplies by truck to some of our forward elements, who had received ammunition and weapons and food from planes. Our Marines report a new J’apanese trick. They have discovered newly-dug trenches in which they took shelter, only, to find that these are pinpointed by enemy mortars. A United Press correspondent points out that one Marine company has lost fifty per cent, of its strength in the last two days in capturing high ground above Naha. It has taken three divisions 44 day,s to reach a bloody ridge known as “Iwo Jima”. Its distance is 15,000 yards from the landing beach. The Japanese made a landing attempt near the Machinato airfield. It was smashed, none of the enemy getting ashore.