The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-04-03
Drive Ahead
OF Schedule
By Ten Days
Strong Or Organized Re-
sistance Still Fails
To Appear

GUAM, TUESDAY, april -Rl- |
Crack troops of the new Tenth |
Army's oath corps cut the vital is
land of OkinaWa in two yesterday
by reaching the village of Tobara
On the east coast almost ten days
ahead of schedule and still finding
no sign of strong or organized re-
sistance.
At Tobara, the Yanks of Maj.
Gen. John R. Hodge were on the
shores of Katsuren Bay, immediate
" north of the extensive fleet an
chorage at Nakagusuku Bay, ma
jor objective of the momentous in
vasion launched Easter morning.
Yesterdays swift drive by the
oath covered two and half miles |
across the ight-mile-wide waist of
Okinawa, the strategic Ryukyu
chain island only 1926 miles south of
the Japanese homeland.
The entire Tenth Army line of
Doughboys and Marines showed
cams averaging several thousand
yards against scattered resistance
which front line reports said in
Guided uniformed Japanese women.
In the extreme north of the
American line, Maj. Gen. Roy S.
Geiger's Third Marine Amphibious
Corps pushed forward to the north
and east to cut off Tampa cape
which juts out prominently at the
tip of the seven and one-half mile
long invasion beach.
While many units walked ahead |
with amazingly little opposition for
such vital stronghold, troops in |
the center of the island encounter
ed rugged terrain and increased |
enemy activity.
This was taken as an indication
that the Japanese as usual were
holed up in caves and command
ing any high ground they could
hold.
There still was no disposition to
change the original estimate that
the japanese have $4,000 to 100, 900
troops on the 65-mile-long island.
Some officers expressed the belief
that the japanese expected land
ings on the southern end, around
the important town Of Naha, when
the Kerama islands offshore were
taken few days earlier. and con-
centrated their defenses there.
Whatever the reason, it appear
ed that 1t. Gen. Simon Bolivar
Rucknew, Jr.'s, newly-formed Ten
tn Army had achieved one of the
greatest coups of the war against
Japan.
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz said in
his communique today that Amer
lean observation planes already
were operating off of two of the
main captured airfields, Katena
and Yontan.
Japanese planes attacked Yank
positions Sunday night, and five
Of them were shot down, NimltZ
announced.
He said carrier aircraft, heavy
guns of the fleet and field artillery
were giving close support to the
SIOuIlQ operations.
Unloading of supplies were re-
ported progressing satisfactorily.
Thus in two days of this amazing
ly easy campaign the Yanks scored
major blow by severing the
southern part of Okinawa, includ-
ing the populous city of Naha and
its large adjacent airfield, from
the extensive fleet anchorageS OF
the north.
On the east coast, the Americans
We're in excellent position to Sc
cure the fine fleet anchorage of
Nakagusuku Bay, few miles
south of Tobara. This is one of the
chief detectives of the invasion.
Front dispatches said the Ameri-
cans in this ''too easy" invasion
were moving at a pace necessary
to cover every square yards OF
ground in search of snipers and to
keep adequate supplies at the front.
Soldiers and Marines already
had seized two major airfields and
one frontline dispatch said third
alrstrip had been secured.
Supplies poured ashore by the
thousands of tons to support this
greatest amphibious invasion of
Inc Pacific war, which so far has
tailed to encounter serious resist
ance.
Radio Tokyo, in an unconfirmed
report, said the Yank forces Sun.
Gay night landed on Kume island,
81 miles west of Okinawa. Kume
is beyond the tiny Kerama Islands,
Nontlnued on Page Two; Col. 81