Evening star., 1944-07-29
Second AirfieId Taken
On Tinian; 1000 laps
On Guam Are Doomed

BY the Associated Press.
PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUAR-
TIERS, Pearl Harbor, July 2o.--Cap-
turing a second airfeld, American
forces today chased fleeing jap
aneSe into the south half of Tinian
Island while other Yanks frightened
trap on 1000 Japanese at Guam,
swelling the total of more than 27,-
900 of the enemy killed in the Mar
ianas.
Impressive ground gains on both
islands were reported by Admiral
Chester w. Nimitz and front-line
correspondents.
The marine drive on Tinian, just
south of Saipan, was turning into
a rout. Sweeping across eight square
miles in move on Shell-shattered
Tinian town, the leathernecks at
times lost all contact with the PIP
anese, who were racing tosard
eventual death in the hilly south
sector.
On Guam, marines and soldiers
gained an additional 500 yards on
Orote Peninsula, pushing closer to
the seaward end the 1000 Japs
doomed to die in defense of an air.
field and the Sumay naval base. The
defenders hold less than half the
peninsula on Guam's west coast.
1000 Japs Killed.
North and south of the peninsula
the YankS crashed inland for gains
up to miles. They threw back a
fierce counterattack, killing 1000
Japs. They moved within 300 yards
Of Agana, Guam's capital. They
won three strategic heights, ranging
up to more than 1000 feet elevation
Conservatively, 4,700 Japs have
been killed on Guam through Thurs
day, one week after it was invaded
Admiral Nimitz reported. More
than 1000 others have been slain
on Tinian and 2l.036 have been
buried on Saipan.
On Tinian, where the built
4,500-foot Ushi airfeld already is
serving American planes, the ma
rines seized another airstrip near
Gurguan Point.
Large Area Is Conquered.
Richard w. Johnston, represent
ing the combined Allied press, re-
ported from flagship at Tinian
that:
The (conqueredD area is consid-
erably greater than TaraWa, KWa ia =
lein and EniWetok combined and is
immeasurably more vital from a
strategic standpoint"
The leathelnecks killed Japs at
ratio of better than 20 to l."
On Ushi airfield. the wreckage OF
more than so Jap) plans was strewn
about fine concrete aprons and in
side well-built bunkers and revet-
ments."
The ground forces are supported
by the most powerful tank forces vet
assembled on single front in the
Pacific"
Marines Well Supported.
Marines of the I'd and 4th Di-
visions are moving behind a mur-
derous curtain of artillery, aerial
and naval bombardment. which bot
tie up Jap mobile forces
The Tinian front, as reported in
last nights communique. extends
from a point 1000 yards north of
Masalog Point on the east coast to
a point 1000 yards southeast of the
hump OF Gurguan Point on the west
coast.
On Guam, the west coast posi-
tions extend from a point within
300 yards of Agna south for 300
yards, then southwestWard follow.
ing line approximately 2 miles in
land from the coast to a point op-
posite Anae Island Priced Port
Apra, whose south shore is formed
by Orote Peninsula, is cut off from
behind.
In the Southwest Pacific, Gen.
Douglas Macarthur announced to-
day that his planes have sunk two
more japanese ships in the vicinity
OF Ceram and North Dutch New
/ Guinea and on Thursday bombed
Strafed and harasSed IT ohioot;vas