NEW LANDING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25563, 16 June 1944, Page 3

NEW LANDING

MARIANA ISLANDS REPORT FROM TOKIO (Rec. 1 a.m.) NEW YORK, June 15. “ Enemy forces attempted to land on Saipan Island, in the Marianas, following a series of air raids,” says the Tokic official radio, quoting a Domei Agency report. “Attempted landings were made from 20 transports, which appeared about 6.30 a.m. Heavy fighting is proceeding.” , United States Government monitors picked up the following English broadcast from Tokio:—“With full knowledge of the enemy's attempt, our garrison forces allowed the invaders to approach as near as possible, and then opened concentrated fire and foiled the attempt. Enemy barges, or what was left of them, were thrown into confusion by the accurate fire, and swiftly returned to the mother vessel about 8.20 a.m. At about 10 a.m. the enemy again attempted a landing on the harbour west of Saipan, but the Japanese forces inflicted heavy pumshrn The United States Navy Department did not comment on the report. The Mariana Group, in the Central Pacific, is about 800 mflesnorthof Truk in the Carolines, and 1500 miles from’ Tokio. Besides Saipan Tinian, and Rota, the largest islands, it includes Guam, a United States aependency, which was occupied by the Japanese early in the Pacific war.