Evening star., 1944-08-06
u. 5. Flank Advance,
Push laps Tighter
Into Corner Of Guam
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUAR-1
TIERS, Pearl Harbor, Aug. S.
lQuickening American advances on
both TANKS OF Northern Guam's
jungle lighting line yesterday
lpressed the Japanese defenders back
Into q sector covering about one-
fourth Of Guam's 226 square miles.
Admiral Chester w. Nimits an
nounced today.
While the drive to complete the
Islands conquest progressed into its
third week, Admiral Nimitz reported
the surprising total OF 1900 civil
ians had found refuge within
American lines.
Only small number of Chamorro
natives can now remain In the
northern area still held by the Japa-
nese. The 1910 census Of Guams
population listed total Of 23,007
Inhabitants.
Marines Push Forward.
A three-mile American advance
on the east coast by the 77th Army
Division brought the right anchor
Of the line to Lumuna Point, two
miles north Of Sassayan Point.
A mile and half push by
Marines on the west coast reached
Amantes Point, gaining full con-
troll Of Tumon Bay.
Facilitating the American drive,
batteries Of Brig. Gen. Pedro Au-
gusto del Vale, native of Puerto
Rico, who commands the 3rd AM
phibious Corps Artillery. belch and
rumble through the day and night.
Resident Of Alexandria.
The general said I'VE are in q
position to fire any place Japanese
soldiers are found. The whole lot
is surveyed and all we have to do
is open up."
The general, 4 resident Of Alex
andria, Va, pointed out that the
guns of his outfit 90 to work i'm
mediately to destroy enemy mortar
and heavy gun positions with the
result that American forces are ad-
vancing with minimum of casual
ties from Japanese artillery and
mortar fire.
John Henry, q war correspondent
at the scene, said ut Is evident that
decisive finish Is imminent. Gaum,
for all practical purposes, Is ours"
American cruisers, destroyers and
gunboats, which have poured more
than 400 tons Of not steel on
Japanese defense positions since
marines and soldiers first landed
July 2l, were operating on both
sides Of the island. Carrier biased
aircraft was bombing and strafing
ahead of the advancing marines
and doughboys, while naval guns
blocked any possible Japanese
escape attempt by sea.
U. s. Positions Secure.
American forces were In secure
positions atop 674-foot Mt. Bar
rigado, which commands the east
coast.
News dispatches from Guam said
the desperate japanese, under
bright moonlight, charged the ma
rines with three heavy tanks. Tur-
ret guns blazed away until the jap
anese were put to flight by Amer
ican fire. Command post reports
said one tank was recommissioned
one damaged. One apparently
escaped
In some sectors the japanese re-
treat was so speedy that American
officers said 1t was difiicult to keep
pace with them. At other points
resistance was oficially indicated as
stiff.
On conquered Saipan Island Jap
anese soldiers routed from hideouts,
are being killed or captured on an
average Of so daily. Additional jap
anese civilians continue to surren-
der on nearby Tinian.
Tokyo Admits Serious Crisis.
Radio Tokyo said Japan, faced
with a serious crisis in Connection
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