LANDINGS ON SAIPAN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 223, 17 June 1944, Page 7

LANDINGS ON SAIPAN

Beach-heads Secured BRISK FIGHTING CONTINUES (By Telegraph. —Press (Received June 16, 7 p.m.) PEARL HARBOUR. June 15. “Strong United States forces have landed on Saipan, In the Marianne Islands,” announced Admiral Nimitz. Commander-in-Chief of the •■ Pacific Fleet. “The landings are being continued against strong opposition, under cover of a heavy bombardment by our air and surface forces. “Initial reports indicate that our casualties are moderate. It is revealed that in the landings on •Saipan, which is only 1449 statute miles south-east of Tokio, specially trained assault troops were the first ashore under an umbrella of carrier-based aircraft and devastating naval gunfire from battleships, cruisers and destroyers. Assault troops secured beach-heads at Saipan, advancing inland against artillery, mortar and machinegun fire, states a Pacific Fleet communique. Virtually all the heavy coastal and anti-air-craft batteries on the island were knocked out by naval gunfire and bombing. Our troops captured Agingan 1 oint. Brisk fighting continues in the town ot Charan Kanoa. The enemy attempted several counterattacks with tanks, which were broken up by our troops with the support of the ships’ aircraft. In general, fighting is heavy, but good progress is being made against well-organized defences. “Saipan is the first large island attacked in the Central Pacific. Thus our offensive leaves the phase of atoll warfare and for the first time encounters the problems of land masses.” says the “New York Times”. correspondent with the United States forces attacking the Mariannes. It can hardly be expected that the capture of Saipan will be a brief operation, such as the seizure of low sandspits in the Gilberts and Marshalls. The attack is plainly an example of leapfrog or by-passing technique as opposed to island-hopping. The capture of Saipan will cut off the Carolines from their sunply lines, thus ending the enemy’s southward aerial traffic Believed Reinforced.

The “New York Times” Pearl Harbour correspondent states that Saipan is believed to have been reinforced with men and material in recent months. The Japanese, obviously aware of the stakes involved, are expected to defend the large island bitterly as they are in a position to inflict severe punishment on the landing forces. Saipan in 1936 han a civilian population of at least 25,000, which is believed to have increased during the war. The importance of the operation is emphasized by Saipan’s proximity to Japan, and it is pointed out that victory will bring in early date to the next phase ot the crushing of Japan—concentrated attacks b- land-based bombers from all sides. The effect on Japanese morale cannot fail to be staggering, particularly in view of the super-bombers’ attack from the Asiatic mainland. Inasmuch as Saipan is a major base for the movement of Japanese men and materials to the Carolines and the South-west Pacific, its fall might be the first scene in a drama of swift collapse of enemy bases scattered thousands of miles in the Pacific Referring to the Pacific . Fleet attacks on the Mariannes and the Kuriles the U.S. Secretary of War, Mr. Stimson, had just said that these formed a guarantee that the pressure on the Japanese would mount and that no part of the Japanese empire would be safe. Tokio radio said that enemy forces attempted to land on Saipan Island, following a series of air raids. Quoting a Domei news agency report, the radio said the 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 a concentrated fire and foiled the attempt. The 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 Mariannes in a harbour west of Saipan, but the Japanese forces inflicted heavy punishment.” A Japanese communique announced that an attempt was also made to land on Tinian Island, in the Mariannes. Heavy fighting was in progress.