OKINAWA BATTLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25211, 25 May 1945, Page 7

OKINAWA BATTLE

MUD LIMITS MOVEMENT AMERICANS PUSHING AHEAD (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON. May 23 Admiral Nimitz's communique says: •'Two small groups enemv aircraft attacked our forces on Okinawa last evening. One enerav plane was shot down and the remainder were driven off without causing damage. "The rains are continuing and heavy mud has limited the movement of the ground troops and armoured vehicles in Southern Okinawa today. In these adverse conditions the 7th Infantry Division expanded its positions south of Yonabaru, capturing a hill south of Taira Town and another elevation west of Yonabaru. "After sharp fighting, in which the 32nd and 184 th Regiments led the attack, the 6th Marine Division sent elements of the 4th Regiment across Asato River about 1000 yards from the mouth under the cover of field artillery. There was heavy naval gunfire in the area west of Conical Hill, the 96th Infantry Division meeting stiff resistance and beating off one counter-attack in which the 382 nd Regiment killed 150 of the enemy. "The 77th Infantry Division is engaged in attacking the range of hills south of I shim mi. Before the city of Shuri in the Ist .Marine Division sector an enemv counter-attack was repulsed. The Cfnited Press correspondent on Okinawa reports that the central stronghold of Shuri is being by-passed rapidfv, as five American divisions push forward on all sectors to crush the remaining Japanese, now numbering fewer than 30.000.