The Wilmington morning star., 1944-07-25
U.S.. Forces
Cut Enemy
Troops Off
Japanese On Orote Pen.
insula Isolated: Guam
Drive Continues
U. S. PACIFIC FLEET
HEADQUARTERS, PEARL

" NJ 1AOAA ~ AAAA
HEADQUARTERS, PEARL
HARBOR, July 24.-P)-
American invaders of Guam,
southern Marianas island
seized by Japan early in the
war, have completely cut off
enemy troops on Orote PENN
sula, Adm. Chester w. Nj
mltz announced today.
Invasion of Tinian Island, where
American assault forces struck
Sunday, was not mentioned in the
communicate. A fleet spokesman
disclosed, however, that the Tinian
landings were made on the north.
west coast, adjacent to the Ushi
point airfield. Tinian is about 125
miles north of Guam.
1t was presumed that the Tinian
forces, elements of the second and
fourth Marine divisions, were NOV.
ing inland across fairly level land
with the objective of pushing di-
rectly across to the east coast. This
maneuver involving a push of near.
ly three miles. would cut off the
already neutralized airfield.
On Guam, the third Marines ap-
preached to within less than a mile
of Agana town and extended their
beachhead inland 1900 yards, the
deepest penetration yet made. This
force is operating in the northern
battle sector, on the west-central
coast of the island.
To the south, the first Marines
and units of the 18th Infantry divi-
sion cooperated to hem in an I'M
known number OF Japanese on the
Orote peninsula, where Guam'A
largest airfield is located. The on
ly possibility of escape for the
trapped enemy was by barges Or
other small craft to unconquered
parts Of the island. The success of
such a flight was highly impro-
bable. Virtually all the enemy's
available shipping had been knock
ed out and American warships
were lying off shore for continuing
commandments in support of the
ground thrust.
A supporting attack by carrier
planes on Rota island, between
Guam and Tinian, was reported by
Nimitz. Airfields and nearby in
stallations were hit. Rota had been
smacked by carrier planes on at
least IA days prior to invasion of
Guam.
Other aerial actions included an
assault far to the north in the Kur-
lie islands. A large fire was start
ed near the airfield on Shimushu
island.
The Yank-held southern sector on
the western coast of Guam resem-
bled a triangle. 1t extended 5000
yards almost straight inland from
the northern edge of Orote peninsu-
la and then angled back to the
coast at a point about $500 yards
below the peninsula.
Virtually all the defenses of the
entrapped segment of Guam's gar
rison, except mortars, rifles, gre
nades and bayonets, were believ-
ed destroyed by the pre-invasion
bombardment and Smelling. Their
situation suggested "banzai
charge, such as preceded the col
lapse of resistance on Saipan, first
island of the Marianas to be con-
quered.
The exact gains made in the
southern sector in the "a hours up
to dusk last night were not report
ed. except for the operation isolat-
ing the Orote peninsula. Action 9TH
erwise was described as straight
ening of lines.
In contrast to rather light oppo-
sition in the southern sector, the
third Marines to the north were
meeting increasingly strong resis-
lance. No details of the fighting
there were reported except MINI
itz' statement that strong enemy
opposition continues despite heavy
casualties inflicted by our ground
troops and intense air and naval
bombardment."
" 49, n