The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-07-01
LOSSES DOUBLE
CUADALCANAL'S
Marines Pay High Price
In Two-Week Fight
On Jap Island

JAIN ~ G1so. CAAsA
HARBOR, June 30.-P)-
Americans battling on Saipan
have paid the highest price
50 far in the Pacific-9,752
killed, wounded and missing
in two weeks-for one-half
of a small but highly impor-
tant island of the Marianas.
The grim figures, announced 10.
day by Adm. Chester w. Nimitz,
were: dead 1,474; wounded, 1900;
878.
The total was far more than dou.
BILE that at bloody Tarawa in 4le
Gllberts last November, when s.
o03 Americans were killed or
wounded in rs hours.
1t more than doubled the losses
on Guadalcanal in six months of
warfare-3,767.
Enemy losses in the bitter fight
ing that has wrested half of rug
ged Saipan from the Japanese also
have been heavy. Nimitz said no
accurate estimate was possible but
1881 Japanese dead already had
been buried. Many dead or wound
ed had been removed by the Jap
anese as they retreated.
AS at Tarawa, which up to that
time was the most costly victory
IN Marine corps history-the loss
es on Saipan were heaviest among
Marine assault force. The total,
covering the period from the inva-
sion June IA through last Wednes-
day, included 1899 killed in action.
At Tarawa 988 Marines lost their
lives.
Army dead on Saipan totaled 1875.
The wounded included 6,377 Ma
rines and 1923 army men. Missing
were 1927 Marines and 81 Army
men.
Despite difficult terrain and in
tensified resistance, American
ground forces scored new gains at
the center of the island wide battle
line and on the eastern or right
flank. Nimitz reported a dominat-
ing position had been occupied
near the small mountain town of
Charan Danshii, on the eastern end
of the front.
Enemy strong points in the Tan
apag harbor area on the western
side were being pounded steadily
by carrier planes and warships.
The final showdown battle for the
island may occur in that area north
of Garapan.
Neutralizing bombardments con-
tlnued against Tinian and Rota is
lands, to the south, and against en-
envy bases in the distant Caroline
and Marshall island groups.
Frontline dispatches reported the
fiercest fighting of the invasion
was in progress on the southern
slope of Mt. Tapotchau, dominat-
ing peag at the islands center.
Two by-passed pockets of resis-
lance still held out there. From
deep, well stocked caves, the jap
anese poured out a deadly fire
from mortars and machineguns.'
Marines and doughboys had
dragged up heavy guns to shell the
caves at pointblank range. Grad
ually the enemy's positions were
crumbling, reported Percy Finch,
representing the combined Allied
press. His dispatch was sent from
joint expeditionary flagship off
Saipan.
h A Japanese strongpoint on the
western slopes of Mt. Tapotchau
had been liquidated. ..
American patrols continued their
penetration of blackened, burned
out Garapan, Saipan's capital. The
town was under continuous naval
and artillery bombardment. Enemy
snipers still were active.
For the first time in week,
there had been no night enemy air
activity. Smelling and bombing OF
Pagan. Tinian, Rota and Guam ap-
parently had knocked out Japanese
airfields within striking distance.
zap island, Japanese base 700
miles to the southwest, was being
subjected to daily assaults by hea-
Wy bombers Of Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur's southwest Pacific forces.
been streWn on airfields and in
More than $50 tons of bombs had
stallations there in a week. Up
wards of so planes had been de-
stroyed or damaged in these neu-
Trailing operations.