MAKIN ISLAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1943, Page 4

MAKIN ISLAND

CAPTURED BY AMERICANS GOOD PROGRESS ON TARAWA. LIMITED ENEMY AIR ACTIVITY. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.30 p.m.) PEARL HARBOUR, November 23. The United States forces which landed last Saturday have captured Makin Island- in the Gilbert group. On Tarawa the Marines are consolidating their positions. Good progress is being made against enemy concentrations on the eastern end of Betio Island, which is part of the Tarawa atoll. Its capture is assured. The situation on Abemama is well.in hand. These details are announced in the latest communique from Admiral Nimitz’s Headquarters. Allied raids against the Marshall Islands continue to be made by carried-based planes and land-based Libeators. Admiral Nimitz is reported as saying that the success of the Allied Central Pacific offensive is assured. ■ _ A spokesman at Admiral Nimitz S -Headquarters said there were several thousand Japanese on Betio Island, but it was uncertain whether there was any enemy resistance on other parts of the Tarawa atoll. The enemy strength on Makin was only a fifth of that encountered at Betid. _ The spokesman added that Japanese air activity had been limited during the Gilberts operations and only minor damcage had been inflicted upon our forces.