PELEW GAINS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25001, 18 September 1944, Page 5

PELEW GAINS

AIRFIELD TAKEN : -J ENEMY REPULSED AMERICAN ASSAULT SEVERITY OF FIGHTING (Reed. 8.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 United States marines on Peleliu Island, in the Pelew Group, 540 miles east of the Philippines, made some additional gains yesterday against strong opposition and captured the airfield at the south end, states a Pacific Fleet communique. Peleliu Island is six miles long and is defended by about 8000 of the 40,000 men stationed in the group. The airfield has two runways, each over three-quarters of a mile long, which will permit the use of fighters and medium bombers. The communique says several enemy counter-attacks, in which tanks were employed, were thrown back by our ground forces, assisted by strong air support and naval gunfire. American Casualties Light Our casualties on the first day were light, says the communique, although the landing beaches have been Under sporadic mortar and artillery fire. Our attack was preceded by aerial bombing and naval gunfire, and resulted in steady advances through well-organ-ised defences in depth. This attack was supported by artillery, tanks, naval unfire and bombing. Our troops counted over 1400 enemy dead by nightfall yesterday. Severe fighting continues. Carrier-based aircraft bombed, strafed and launched rockets against enemy installations immediately behind ' the landing beaches. They also heavily bombed gun emplacements and other defence installations at the northern end of the island. Landing on Angaur Island A later Pacific Fleet communique states that United States Army assault troops gained all their objectives after landing at dawn on ' Saturday on Angaur Island, six miles south of Peleliu Island. Resistance was relatively light. Carrier aircraft, cruisers and destroyers heavily attacked enemy positions before the landing. A major aerodrome is situated on Angaur. Island, which has also-great phosphate deposits. The fast carrier task force which is covering and supporting the landings in the extensive operations throughout the Western Pacific is commanded by Vice-Admiral M. A, Mitscher. The amphibious troops are commanded by Major-General Geiger. The initial landings were made by the Ist Marine Division, commanded by Major-General Rupertus. Ships in direct support were commanded by Rear-Admiral Fort. A Terrific Bombardment United States marines established a beachhead on the southern rim of Peleliu Island, after a terrific sea and air bombardment, which rocked the island fro'm end to end, says the combined American radio network correspondent with the United States forces on Pelew. "The marines realise this is going to be a tough campaign," he adds. ' r The strongly-entrenched Japanese are fighting hard. Battleships, cruisers and destroyers poured salvo after salvo at the island, while carrier-based planes blasted the exceptionally thick wooded area extending far inland, but the woods seemed effective in protecting the enemy. Some of America's newest battleships took part in the operation." The Tokyo official radio announces that United States forces have landed on the south-west coast of Peleliu Island. The invaders used more than 40 ships. The radio claims the enemy was repulsed after the landing, 2500 being killed in the first two and a-half hours.