Evening star., 1945-05-14
Defense GROWING
More Desperate
EveryHour
By the Associa ated Press.


threw in fresh reserves today anc
laid down thunderous artillery
barrages in an effort to hall
q powerful American offensive
which had reached the outskirts
of Naha, shell-blasted and heav-
ily.mined capital of Okinawa.
Marines advanced into the out
skirts of Naha's business district
and foot soldiers under command OF
Maj. Gen. James L. Bradley staged
a fierce assault on a hill position
near the center of the Okinawa line
from which the enemy was directing
artillery fire.
Many enemy troops killed in the
Okinawa sector wore new uniforms,
indicating they probably were re-
serves who were seeing their first
action in the bitter battle for
Japan's 'back-door" island.
Desperate Jap Defense.
Enemy defense was growing more
desperate every hour, and in addi-
tion to antitank guns and mines,
savage one-man Sorties by japanese
carrying satchel charges of explo-
Sives were increasing.
japanese artillery fire roars con-
stantly during daylight, and SIM
mers down to harassing fire at
night, as the enemy defends a city
reduced largely to rubble.
The mined and BOBBY trapped
city of $4,000 population was a mere
skeleton, Associated Press Core
spondent Vern Haughland, who en-
tered the northern section of Naha
yesterday, said in a dispatch.
Marines of Maj. Gen. Lemuel C
Shepherd. jr's 9Th Division moving
down the west coast of the Ryukyu
Island only 325 miles south of Japar
itself. fought fiercely to the north
ern bank of the Asato River, which
runs through the city.
May Cross River Today.
Here the fanatical japanese were
throwing artillery, mortars and con-
siderable Small-arms fire into the
tank-led American column in an
effort to keep it from crossing the
last water barrier before Naha.
Brig. Gen. William T. Clement OF
Richmond, Va, assistant commander
of the 9Th Division, watched his
men slug their way into Naha. He
told Correspondent Haughland he
felt the Leathernecks would cross
the Asato today and swarm through
the center of the capital.
Admiral Chester w. Nhmitzs com
munique today made no mention
of Naha other than to say the 6tt
Division was meeting stiff resist.
ance" in a day of fierce fighting al
along the tough line.
Behind the Marine lines a JAP
anese force attempted yesterday to
make counterlanding near thu
Machinato Airfeld, but failed dis
astrouSly. Guns from ships anc
ashore broke up the amphibious
force and sank every landing boat
Counterattack Smashed.
Inland the 1st Marine Division
under Maj. Gen. Pedro A. del Vale
broke up a strong counterattack anc
then moved southeastward from the
village of Dakeshi against the ap-
proaches to the major enemy
stronghold of Shuri. second city oi
Okinawa.
The Yanks were steadily tighten
ing a moose on Shuri, a veritable
fortress city. The $3.50 Regiment
of Maj. Gen. James L. Bradley's
96th Infantry Division scaled i'm
portant Conical Hill, about l mile
from Shuri.
Maj. Gen. Andrew D. Bruce's 77th
Infantry Division, meanwhile, took
high ground near Conical Hill. The
77th was under some of the heaviest
mortar ana artillery fire of the
Okinawa campaign.
Planes Approach Shipping.
A few enemy planes approached
American shipping at Okinawa yes.
terday, but caused no damage. A
strong Japanese air fleet struck or
Friday and damaged several Amer
ican feet units In all, SO attacking
planes were shot down. Seventy-si,
enemy aircraft were destroyed ir
other actions for a one-day tota
of 1863.
A major unit of the American
feet was damaged by air attack thu
same day as carrier planes made
low-level attacks on the Amam
group of the Ryukyus, north ol
Okinawa.
Shore installations on Minam
Daito Island, east of the Ryukyus
we're bombarded Thursday.
TUo additional men from
the District area haze been re-