Evening star., 1945-05-30
Marines Penetrate
Shuri Castle After
Surprising Japs
Half of Remainder of
Okinuwo to Fall Within
Week, Colonel Predicts
MAP on Page A-10.)
,y the Associated Press.

| SS tHt hSSoSiabou 1900
GUAM, May 80. American
Marines have penetrated rock
walled Shuri Castle, 10Th CEN
tury fortress and keystone of
japanese defense on Okinawa
which withstood attack for 18
days, as gains elsewhere led to
the prediction that half the re-
mainder of the island would fall
within a week.
Associated Press War Correspond
ent Vern Haughland reported from
the front that Company &C" Marines
of the 5th Regiment, 1st Division,
spearheaded their battalion's ad-
vance on Shuri and entered the
castle yesterday after surprising
Japanese defenders swimming in
the moat.
BY midmorning Col. John H. Grie-
bel, regimental commander, from
Hartford, Conn, reported the entire
1st Battalion had reached the castle
Col. Griebel reported resistance only
from rifle and light mortar fire
during the advance.
Drive Toward Highway.
Other elements of the 5th Regi-
ment advanced southeast from the
Asato village area toward the Naha-
Yonabaru highway, which runs east
and west in the area south of Shuri
and which already has been cut at
its eastern end by the 7th Infantry
Division.
Sixth Division Marines virtually
completed investing Okinawa's cap
ital city of Naha, moving eastward
across the Naha Canal. They met
stiff opposition as the japanese
fought back fiercely among the
Christian cemetery tombstones in
the southeast part of the city.
japanese in the area north of
Shuri also stubbornly resisted.
Mr.. Haugland reported the 1st
Regiment of the 1st Marine Division
was able to gain but slightly as it
moved down Wana Ridge into the
valley northwest of Shuri against
bitter defenses."
Jap Line Still Firm.
The 77th and 96th Army Divisions
north and west of Shuri found the
japanese line still firm, Mr.. Haug-
land said, and failed to make gains.
Thus, although the garrison in and
around Shuri seemed to be with
drawing, the shell torn medieval
structure still remained the center
OF the strongest Japanese resistance
on the island.
On the extreme eastern flank the
7th Infantry Division again extend
ed its positions south of Yonabaru,
moving southwark approximately a
mile to kill $50 japanese and cap
ture heights overlooking the remains
of Karadera, 2 miles southeast of
Yonabaru. Other 7th Division pa
trolls reached Sashiki, below Baten
Bay at the base of Chinen PENN
sula, and famed south to isolate the
peninsula.
Push South of Chan.
Directly south of Shuri, 7th Divi-
sion units pushed south of Chan,
where a number of mud -mired
enemy guns and vehicles were de-
stroyed, to high hills a mile distant
overlooking the south shore of the
island.
1t. Col. Jackson Gillis, member
of Maj. Gen. Archibald v. Arnold's
7th Division staff, said the patrols
were within sight of the southern
shore of Okinawa and would reach
it today.
1--WE should see considerable gains
in the next three days." Col. Gillis,
former New York and Hollywood
actor, said. Il believe we will take
at least half of what's left of South
ern Okinawa within a week."
In the Yonabaru sector of the
east coast Japanese suicide" SWIM
merS carrying explosives tried to
attack 7th Infantry Division posi-
tions. All were killed in the water.
Admiral Chester w. Nimitz's COM
munique today telling of these
broad gains also reported further
Japanese air strikes against Ameri-
can shipping at Okinawa. One
light unit of the feet was damaged.
Meanwhile, the count of enemy
planes destroyed in the raid Sum
day night and Monday morning
was raised from II to lis on the
basis Of complete information. That
assault, the most destructive yet
launched against the United States
fleet there, sank one light unit and
damaged IL others.
Three additional men from