ENIWETOK CAPTURED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24825, 23 February 1944, Page 5

ENIWETOK CAPTURED

STUBBORN RESISTANCE ATTACK ON PARRY ISLAND (Rccd. 11.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Feb. 22 The capture by American forces of Eniwetok Island, in Eniwetok atoll, is announced in a United States Pacific Fleet communique. The communique states that enemy resistance was stubborn and small pockets of troops have yet to be overcome. The communique adds that Parry Island, also in Eniwetok atoll, is being heavily attacked by our air and surface forces. Preliminary reports indicate that American casualties in the capture of Eniwetok atoll are approximately 100 killed and 350 wounded. Tim Pearl Harbour correspondent of the New York Times says the capture of Eniwetok must have been a gruelling battle of two American regiments against the Japanese garrison of 1000, but our losses have been amazingly small as a result of new tactics employed bv the American Pacific forces. The wording of the communique indicates that the Americans have not .yet attempted a landing on Parry Island. With the capture of Eniwetok, the Americans have seized an important Mid-Pacific hinge on which they can swing shut the gate separating the rest of tho Marshalls from their sources of protection and supply.