Evening star., 1945-05-01
III. ). Tanks SheI|inq
| Shuri on 0kinawa;
1,500 laps Killed
Ey the Associated Press.

Ey the Associated Press.
GUAM, May Tanks of the 96tk
Infantry Division today were within
300 yards of Shuri, Okinawa's for.
mer capital and second largest city
They dropped rs to 80 rounds into
buildings on the outskirts, the first
direct fire on Shuri, Associated Press
Correspondent Vern Haughland
said. 1t. Robert B. Lyons, Ordway
Colo, commands the tank platoon.
Headquarters of Maj. Gen. James
L. Bradley's 96th Division reported
1,500 Japanese killed in the last u
hours.
Doughboys of Maj. Gen. George
w. Griner's 9th Infantry Division
captured Machinato airfield on the
west coast, but were forced to call on
medium tanks to wipe out heavy
japanese opposition from cave posi-
tions on their left (east) flank.
Fourth Airfield Taken.
| Capture of Machinato-less than 2
miles north of the capital city
Naha, and Naha's big airdrome-
gave 1t. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buck
ner's 10th Army its fourth airfleld
Of the Okinawa campaign.
Katena and Yontan, a few miles
north, were captured on invasion
day, April /, and lie Islands four
runway airdrome was seized April
Is by elements of Maj. Gen. Andrew
D. Bruce's 77th Infantry Division
Katena, Yontan and Ie fields all
are in use.
Capture of a fifth airfied, Yona-
baru, on the east coast, seemed i'm
minent. Maj. Gen. Archibald "
Arnold's 7th Infantry Division
reached the northern edge of that
field and heights overlooking it
but still faced the problem of seizine
other hills from which Japanese
could pour gunfire onto the runways
The enemy counterattacked at
several points yesterday, but without
success. American advances aver
aged 500 yards. The 96th Division
killed 280 Japanese in one inflltra-
ton, 200 in another.
Associated Press Correspondent
James Lindsey said four American
tanks stalled ahead of the 7th Divi-
sion line. They were fired and de-
stroyed in the night by japanese.
Carrier planes and ships guns de-
stroyed % Japanese aircraft in a
Sunday attack on American forces
off Okinawa. Carrier air patrols
shot down Is more before they coulc
reach the naval units on Sunday
and Monday. A carrier attack or
Northern Ryukyus Islands added
five Japanese planes destroyed or
the ground to make a two-day total
of SO.
Admiral Chester w. Nimitz's com.
munique today made no mention OF
damage to feet units in the Sunday
attack.
Carrier planes also attacked
coastal shipping, landing craft, fue
dumps, barracks and airfield in.
stallations in the Northern Ryukyus
Navy search planes destroyed &
small cargo ship and damaged mum.
erous small craft north of Kyushu
sank three small cargo ships of
Lou Island south of Tokyo anc
several fishing vessels off Southern
Honshu, sank or damaged severa
small craft and barges at Truk ano
Woleai in the Carolines and strafec
ground installations, including rada,
stations, in the Kuriles
Aboard Vice Admiral Richmond
Kelly Turner's amphibious force
flagship, it was disclosed that the
japanese suicide pilots crash or
the U. S. S. Comfort, Navy hos
pital ship, Saturday night killed six
patients already wounded in the
fighting on Okinawa. The 3 cas-
ualties also included Arm and
Navy doctors and Army nurse killed
or wounded.
Warships Under Attack.
A group of American destroyers
and other warships underwent eight
attacks by Japanese planes with
out damage. Two of the enemy
were shot down. Effective fire o1
the ships turned back most of the
attacking force. In view of the
apparent poor quality and lack oi
experience Of japanese pilots, it was
doubtful if many of them reached
home bases.
Five bombs were dropped or
American-held Yontan airfield but
there were no reports of damage OF
casualties.
Wet, soft ground impeded tank
warfare and bogged-doWn armored
vehicles became japanese artillery
targets. In the central sector of the
Southern Okinawa battle line, the