The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-04-05
i. s. Tiightens
Grip On East
Shore Isle
l5-MiIe Line Projects Into
Enemy Positions near
Capital

GUAM, Thursday, April 5-RH
Still finding only scattered re-
sistance, Marines and infantrymen
scored gains on all fronts on stra-
tegic Ol.inawa in the Ryukyus yes
terday, fourth day OF the thus far
surprisingly easy campaign, the
Navy announced today.
Seventh Division Doughboys con-
soldated their positions along the
coast of Nakagusuku Bay, onetime
Japanese fleet anchorage on the
eastern shore, while the Third Ma
rines at the north established
line on a narrow isthmus just north
Of Yontan Hill.
Front observers have predicted
the so, 900 to 10000 japanese on the
island, only 1925 miles south of JAP
an proper, might make a stand on
this charlottesville two-mile 18TH
mus.
The American line now measures
about IS miles from north to south.
The southern end projects into JAP
anese riIbox positions only four
miles from the capital. city of Naha,
largest In the Ryukyus, and its
large airdrome adjacent.
Adm. Chester w. Nimitz said in
his conmunique today the Japa-
nese still "offered scattered resis-
lance"
The first indications OF opposi-
ton were found along west coas-
tai road above Naha. japanese ar
tillery fire and land mines slowed
the 77th Infantry advance, but the
enemy withdrew under answering
Yank field guns.
A small force of enemy planes
raided American positions yestsr-
day. Four were shot down.
An American carrier task force
attacked aircraft and installations
in the Anlmi group of the SOUTH
ern Ryllkyus on Tuesday, destroy
ing or damaging Sc enemy planes
and sinking or damaging % small
ships. Fuel dumps and buildings
were left ablaZe.
Aerial aconnaissance warned
the 77th 4nfantry Division moving
down the west coast and the Sew
enth on the east coast of line OF
enemy TIRE ches and pillboxes pro-
tecting Mana and the Machinato
and Yonaharu airfields.
But the scattered and Intellectual
Japanese defense since the u, S.
10th Army of Doughboy and Marine
divisions landed on Okinawa Sun
day has enabled the Americans to
exceed their invasion schedule and
pile up supplies and ammunition
ashore to meet expected stiffening
enemy resistance.
''The critical period Of landing
men and supplies is over" said
1t. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner,
Jr, commanding general of the
10th Army. Army, Navy and Ma
rine elements all functioned like
clockwork.''
While the oath Army Corps units
push southwark toward Naha, ele-
ments of the Third Marine Am
phlbious Corps on the northern edge
Of the widening American corridor
across the island are thrusting
north.
I'VE are out of the woods now"
said Maj. Gen. Roy S. Geiger,
commander of the Marine force.
His Leathernecks captured ?00-foot
high Ycntanzan Hill from japanese
who employed only small arms
lire defense.
The Marines cleaned minor
groups of Japanese from caves as
mey progressed to the east coast
near Katchin peninsula.
The only important Japanese re-
distance early in the invasion of
0klnaWa. 325 miles from southern
Japan, was staged in the interior
by a force Of about battalion
strength, said Vern Haugland, AS
Ssoclated Press correspondent.
troops of the 9th Army Corps
cleaned up this pocket.
Warships of the U. S. Fifth Fleet
are giving continuing support to
ground operations with surface
eGa1t gunfire, while carrier planes
manner land targets.
oaly three miles separated the
american Army units yesterday
from the Machinato and Yonabaru
slIIelds which form part of Naha' S
licenses. Machinato is on the west
sosst, five miles north of Naha,
ana Yonabaru is six miles east Of
we city on the coast.
Tokyo radio admitted the Yank
d. nlseGted Okinawa but reported only
..e loss of the village of Awashi
On the east coast.