Evening star., 1945-02-23
laps on Two Leap
From Volcano Rim
As Yanks Close In
BY MoRRIE LANDsBERG.

Associated Press War Correspondent.
ABOARD ADMIRAL TURNER'S
ExPEDITIONARY FORCE FLAG
SHIP OFF TWO, Feb. % (via Navy
Radio).-American marines watched
Japanese soldiers fling themselves
from the crater rim of Mount Surf
bachi yesterday as the Leathernecks
drew up the steep slopes of the
dominating volcanic formation on
the southern tip of Two Island.
In contrast to the fierce resistance
to the north, "a number" of enemy
troops chose spectacular suicide to
being hunted down in caves of the
566-foot high mountain while others
def1antly heaved grenades at ma
rines moving into position to assault
the isolated fortress of lava rock.
There were no trails leading to
the crater rim from which the jap
anese jumped. Possibly the Japanese
realized they had no choice except
being killed or surrender-and Japa-
nese Just don't surrender to United
States marines. Or they may have
been stunned or crazed by the in
cessant bombardment by naval
warships and carrier planes which
worked on gun positions around
the crater and on fat, imposing
Suribachi.
Jap Planes Make First Raid.
Enemy planes succeeded in max
ing their first raid last night. They
came in the half twilight of the
mist-shrouded sunset last night. In
front of us we could see blasts of
fire from United States ships she'll
ing Japanese positions on Two. In
the distance, on the gray horizon
broken by red bursts of antiaircraft
fire were the striking japanese
planes. Sometimes there would be
flames that told of the fiery finish
of plane. Seven, in all, were shot
down by our planes and ships guns.
But some ships were damaged.
The 4th Marines fought in cold
rain in the central sector of the
island against continued strong op-
position. Americans driving for the
central airfield did well to hold
their own. Small gains were made
while artillery smashed more enemy
emplacements.
The Japanese failed in q series
OF night counterattacks. They tried
to dislodge or disorganize Yank
troops who had seized a third of the
5-mile-long, thickly fortified island.
Maj. Gen. Clifton B. Gates of the
4th Division told Associated Press
Correspondent Jim Lindsey that
these sorties against the marine
lines were supposedly the japanese
version of a co-ordinated counter
assault. He said most of the at
tacks were light.
Puzzled by Absence of Tanks.
Mr.. Lindsey also reported that
the marines we're puzzled by the al
most complete absence of japanese
tanks. The fact that only three en-
emy armored vehicles were seen
led Gen. Gates to believe that either
the enemy tanks were knocked out
by the United States bombardment
or that the Japanese were saving
them for later counteroffensives.
Bad weather hampered the land
ing of supplies and shore to ship
movements. A heavy surf tossed
small boats about and many crews
lost the way in the foglike mist.
On the beach, handling of supplies
was difficult because our vehicles
were unable to travel over the soft
lava sands. Even the jeeps couldn't t
make it. They had to be pulled out
Steel mating was installed as far
as possible on the beach to facin-
tate the use of vehicles. The beach
was under intermittent fire by Japa-
nese artillery and mortars.