Evening star., 1945-06-20
Yanks Neariinq
Cave Of Japs'
0kiinawa Leader
Infontrymen Slowed
While Marine Forces
Continue Advances
BY the Associated Press.

GUAM, June 20.-Against stiff
fening resistance, 7th Division
Doughboys today fought dogged-
ly toward Mabuni, believed to be
headquarters of the japanese
general commanding Okinawa
forces, while two Marine regi-
.ments cleaned out enemy-in-
tested caves after breaking
through the islands coast.
Scores of japanese troops jumped
from cliffs into the surf as the 9th
Regimental Combat Team and the
9Th Regiment raced to the southern
shores yesterday and cut japanese
survivors into three pockets Both
regiments were on the coast south
of Komesu, near the center of the
Islands southern tip.
The two regiments seized 700 yards
of the coast.
With the enemy breaking in dis
organized confusion in the Marine
sector of Southwestern Okinawa, and
500 japanese surrendering in one
day. AdmiraI Chester w Nimitz said
in today's communique: The
enemy's defenses we're in the process
of collapsing' by nightfall yesterday
A Tokyo radio broadcast conceded
the loss of OkinaWa and declared
its fall would have serious military
consequences. The enemy claimed
furious hand-to-hand" fighting
still was in progress, however.
Japs Fleeing in South.
The southern end of the island
was a nightmare of confusion. In
some sectors, japanese fed franti-
cally across. open terrain Aircraft
strafed and heavy warships shelled
them.
Other japanese made death
stands, usually in small groups,
taking a heavy toll of American
lives, until wiped out by tanks, flame
throwers, or small-arms fire. They
killed many Americans, including
some high ranking officers.
Many fled to white coral cliffs at
the southern shore. Some leaped
into the surf Others, seeing their
comrades wiped out by rocket-fring
LCI's, used as gunboats close ashore,
signaled desire to surrender
Seven swan out to an Lei and gave
up. One group of 80 soldiers, fol-
lowing loud-speakered instructions
from a japanese prisoner aboard
an Lei, made their way with 300
Okinawan civilians to an American
force and surrendered.
Infantrymen Gain Slowly.
Near Mabuni on the southeastern
coast, however, Maj. Gen. Archibald
v. Arnold's 7th Infantry Division
was held to slow advance through
coral heads, brush and caves, where
the enemy fought fanatically with
machine guns. rifles and grenades.
An elaborate system of caves and
tunnels near Mabuni was believed
to house the japanese general who
last week ignored 1t. Gen. Simon
Bolivar Buckner, jr's offer to nego-
tiate surrender and prevent an
nihilation. Ger. Buckner was
killed Monday by japanese she'll
burst as he watched the 9th Marine
Regimental Combat Team make
such smashing gains that enemy
troops fled in confusion over open
terrain. Gen. Buckner, commander
of the 10th Army, was succeeded by
1t. Gen. Ray S. Geiger.
After the Buckner surrender ul-
timatum was ignored. 81 Marine
Corsairs heavily attacked the Ma
buni stronghold with gasoline jelly
bombs, starting fires, and shot
rockets into the caves believed to
house the general and his staff
Army officers told Associated Press
Correspondent AL Dopking they be-
lieved the heavy resistance in the
Mabuni area indicated the japanese
general still is alive and is forcing
available troops to make death
stand around him.
Three Stubborn Cores.
The end of any semblance of jap
anese resistance was near. but three
stubborn cores were holding out
One was in thes Nahum area. A
second was around Hill 81 in the
Marine sector. The third was in the
Mabuni- sector. between the
first two.
Considerable mopping up of enemy
strong points was in progress while
droves of war-dazed, battered Oki-
nawans were moving through Amer
lean lines to civilian camps. So
many civilians were on the move in
some areas that they impeded prog
ress of advancing American troops.
The 5th Marine Regiment, sup
ported by heavy artillery and rocket
fire, assaulted Hill 81, east of Ma
kabe, where isolated japanese were
holding out stubbornly.
The 96th Infantry Division, ad-
vancing south in the center of the
ragged front, captured ridge north
of the town of Aragachi. A con-
siderable number of japanese were
fighting fiercely from strong points
in this area.