BITTER FIGHTING IN SAIPAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 145, 19 June 1944, Page 5

BITTER FIGHTING IN SAIPAN

IMPORTANCE OF THE ACTION

MAJOR FLEET BATTLE MAY RESULT

Recd. 8 p.m. Washington, June 17. 'The bitterly resisting defenders of Saipan yielded ground slowly to-day and used deadly mortar and artillery lire against American invaders, says the Associated Press Pearl Harbour correspondent. The Americans were forced to withdraw in some sectors in the initial phases of the lighting near the beachheads, but finally they consolidated their positions, and, aided by naval and air bombardments, advanced sugar-mill town of Charan Kanoa, and an airstrip, and after street fighting and an airstrip, after street fighting brought Garapna, the chief town of Saipan, under American artillery fire. “The Saipan action may turn out the most important Pacific operation, and the opening scene of actions is transcending anything previously seen in this area for drama, and its critical bearing on the war,” says the New York Times Pearl Harbour correspondent. “There is a possibility of a major fleet action in the Marianas, or their vicinity. There has not been a single mention of enemy surface units since the bi tie opened, but the enemy is gaining time in getting them to the scene. “American navy officials learned privately that, as the offensive reaches closer the enemy’s home empire, we must expect counter-actions representing the greatest strength the Japanese can muster, and that we cannot conduct operations of such magnitude and daring without expecting losses.” “United States assault troops are engaged in bitter fighting against the defending forces on Saipan Island,” says a Pacific communique. “Yesterday, and during Thursday night, our troops were withdrawn a short distance towards the beach in some sectors, in the face of intense mortar and artillery fire. The position were consolidated, and during the night our naval forces carried out a heavy bombardment of enenrty strongpoints.

| “On Thursday morning the energy resistance in a strongly-held sector northward of Charman Kanoa was broke. The major elements of our forces commenced an attack at midday, which advanced our line nearly half a mile in the southern sector of the island. Lesser advances were I made in other sectors. "Our assumption that Saipan would Ibe strongly held because of its strategic location in the Japanese deI fence system, has been proved correct. I Preliminary estimates indicate that upwards of two divisions of troops are defending Saipan.” The United Press correspondent with the United States Expeditionary Force says the first assault waves from loaded Alligators battled their way inshore under a shower of Japa- ! nose long-range mortar and artillery i fire from the hills, rising towards • 1500-foot Mount Potchau. Battle [casualties in the Saipan invasion, which is the first Pacific fighting [comparable to house-to-house encounters in Europe, are not expected to equal the Tarawa (Gilbert Islands) figures, although the assault troops suffered material losses. The heaviest fighting developed behind Kanoa in a swamp lake area, [where the Japanese tanks supported counter-attacks which the Americans turned back, thus securing a small airstrip, which, however, is not yet out of range of Japanese mortars. Air preparations prevented the Japanese sending up a single plane to interfere with the Allied landing. Naval forces patrolled a two-and-a-half-mile channel separating Saipan and Tinian -Islands, effectively preventing lartillery enfilade fire during the assault, by knocking out the Tinian batteries. The greatest battle of the Pacific war is expected as the fighting progresses into the more mountainous regions in the centre and north part of the island, where a large Japanese garrison is well organised.