Evening star., 1944-06-27
japanese Resistance
Stiffens All ALONG
Saipan Island Front
Abandonment Of Some Of
Peak Defenses Seen
Presoeine Hard Fight
Bv HOWARD HANDLEMAN,

BY HOWARD HANDLEMAN,
Representing the Combined American Press.
Distributed by the Associated Press.
ABOARD JOINT EXPEDI-
TIONARY FORCE FLAGSHIP,
Saipan, June 27 June 26 United
States time) (Via Navy Radio -
Japanese infantry resistance
stiffened all along the island
wide front this morning as Ma
rine and Army forces reached a
sector possibly chosen for the be-
ginning of Japan's last-ditch de-
tense of Saipan.
Already five heavily y-defended Jap
pockets have been by-passed on Mt.
Tapotchau, from whose peak the
American line pivots to the beaches
on the eastern and western sides
Of the island. The pocketed Japs
sareydelending caves from whichztlaey
harass and slow the American ad-
vance.
Americans who wondered at Jap
anese abandonment of strong de-
fenses on Tapotchaus southern
slopes were beginning to believe that
even stronger defenses are ahead.
Jap resistance gives every evidence
the enemy is ready to end his delay
ing tactics and begin battle of in
fantry masses.
Snipers Fight Patrols.
The japanese defense line bends
from the north slopes of Tapotchau
and down into Garapan on the west
and through Donnay Village on the
east shore.
Snipers and machine -gunners
hiding in Garapan houses and Gel
lars fought patrols venturing beyond
American lines 10 blocks into the
southern outskirts of the town.
The American advance was spill
ing over lightly-defended areas and
slowing against the heavily resist
ing sectors to conform to enemy de-
feAse lines.
This line roughly cuts inland to
the center, indicating a Jap de-
Tense in depth and possibly presag-
ing a battle phase even more bloody
that that of the first two weeks of
the Saipan invasion, during which
the Japanese retreated, avoiding in
fantry clashes, but pounding the
Americans with mortar and artil-
lery.
Hard Battle Expected.
Saipan, already ranking with the
roughest Pacific battles, threatens
to develop into terrible campaign
of blood letting, with fighting in
streets, houses, mountains, forests
and canef1elds, combining the worst
terrain features of all the Pacific
battle fronts.
The Japanese still hold about half
the island, giving both forces room
for maneuvering, although the
American marines and Army SOL
diers hold every speed advantage
because Of superior mechanization
and with roadways greatly improved
over Jap-held roads.
The Americans continue to hold
complete sea and air superiority.
The enemy is still making light
night raids.
Last night four light enemy raids
alerted the island and shipping. A
single enemy plane launched
torpedo and crashed into cargo
ship boom. The torpedo, launched
too late for water run which would
have armed it, failed to explode, but
killed one man and inflicted slight
damage on the ship.
While American artillery rocked
Garapan for several hours with the
heaviest barrage yet laid down by
Sa1pan shore guns American planes
and bombs made life miserable for
frontline japanese troops all the
way from the Kurile Islands in the
North Pacific to New Guinea and
the Solomons across the Equator
Aside from carrier task force
raid on Guam and Rota Islands in
the Marianas Saturday, there were
no reports of fleet activity. The
japanese feet which ventured out
toward Guam last week, only to take
tremendous beating in plane and
ship losses, presumably has retired
to the Philippines for repairs.
In the strike at two airstrips on
Guam, seven enemy planes were de-
stroyed on the ground and 10 or IL
(See SEIPAN, Page A-10.)