Evening star., 1945-05-28
Jap Withdrawal
From m|nlperi|ed
Shuri Indicated
Americans Threaten
To Cut OFF Okinuwo
Fortress From Rear
BY the Associated Press.

drawing from the OklnaWa town
of Shuri after fierce 38-day
defense of the key fortress.
If the indicated withdrawal be-
comes full-scale retreat it will
have been forced by the United
States 7th Infantry Divisions break
through on the coast which has
f1anked Shuri and now threatens to
cut 1t off from the rear.
Maj. Gen. Archibald v. Arnold S
7th Division patrols have pushed
through incessant rains almost to
the village of Chan, nearly 2 miles
south of" Shuri.
The withdrawal and possible
cracking of the Japanese defense on
Okinawa was indicated in field dis
patches and Admiral Chester w
|Nimitz's communique:
l. A concentration of japanese
was caught moving south of the
village of Gisushi, more than mile
southwest of Chan, and was virtu-
ally wiped out by co-ordinated naval
oAAA oAA
Japs Blow Up Caves.
O. North of Shuri, between that
town and American front lines, the
lst Marine Division saw the Jap
anese blowing up Is or 20 caves,
presumably to destroy food or other
supplies stored there.
8. On the east flank south of cap
tured Yonabaru the 7th Infantry
Division found what was described
as very large stores" of food, am
munition and equipment in aban-
doned caves in the Ozato Mura hills,
encompassed by the 7th last week.
4. Associated Press Correspond
ent Al Dopking reported that the
constant Japanees artillery bom-
bardment of American positions had
decreased from an average $4,000
rounds daily to about 500 rounds
probably because 1863 enemy field
pieces have been knocked out by
precision-firing American guns.
Naval sources declined to place
any interpretations on the series
Of actions, and spokesman, when
asked if they indicated Withdrawals,
replied
They may be part of the whole
picture, and they may not; it's sort
of risky to guess"
Jap Troops Smashed.
Admiral Nimitz's communique said
battiesi1ips, cruisers and smaller
ships as we'll as rocket-firi planes
smashed "a considerable number of
enemy troops observed maneuvering
south of the Shuri position"
Correspondent Dopking, with the
10th Army on Okinawa, wrote the
force numbered between 1000 and
$500 troops, and observers reported
they spotted numerous dead along
the muddy road and adjacent
fields"
A great exodus of civilians moving
southwark from Shuri was reported
by artillery observers.
AS rain slowed operations on Oki-
nawa for the sixth straight day
Marines of Maj. Gen. Pedro A. del
Valle's 1st Division expanded their
bridgehead across the Asato River
within the blasted capital city of
Naha, on the west coast.
Pour Across Asato.
Elements of the 22d Marine Regi-
ment poured across the ASato and
advanced up to 300 yards southwest
of the river mouth, almost reaching
the west coast, while the 4th Marine
Regiment under Col. Alan Shapley
drove 400-yard salient into the
heart of Naha, meeting only mod
crate mortar and machine-gun fire.
Troops of Col. Roy A. Green's
184th Regiment secured a 500-foot
escarpment dominating most of the
high ground on the east coast and
sent strong patrols into the Ozato
Mura hills. Only sniper and small
arms fire were encountered.
Correspondent Dopking said the
YankS at Ozato Mura obviously are
now in a position to strike Shuri
from behind, cut off the Chinen
Peninsula on the east coast or knife
southwark to the end of the island
and split the japanese forces"
All along the front torrential rain
made supply difficult over slippery
muddy roads. On one height north
east of Shuri, in the 96th Division
sector, the Yanks had to establish
a human chain to pass along sup
plies hand to hand.
No further japanese air attacks
were reported on American shipping
and ground positions since Thurs
day nights strange 18-hour assault
in which suicide troops, flown to
crash landings on OkinaWa airfields.
sought to destroy parked planes and
installations with grenades-with
some success. A total of 166 Japa-
nese planes were destroyed.