The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-05-21
Battle Q-aicke1ls For
Seizure OF aDkinaWa
Heights Being
Scaled by
Marines
(By the Associated Press

(By the Associated Press
A quickening battle for Okinawa
from which the death blow can
be delt the japanese empire was
seen today as Marines scaled the
last ridge dominating Shuri, CEN
trail fortress of the Nipponese, who
have lost 4S,103 men trying to hold
the island.
Tokyo reported an Allied task
force was headed toward southern
Japan, 325 miles north Of Okinawd,
while B-29s sowed more mines in
the western entrance TO the island
sea, West OF Okinawa imperial
forces showed further signs of
abandoning the central China coast.
losing another port to Chinese
troops. To the south Yanks made
additional small gains in the
Philippines where they have killed
369.SlS enemy soldiers in seven
months, 1866 in the last month.
Sink Ships
In the waters around these
ground battles, American planes
sank Is ships and damaged 10
more. The most spectacular con-
tribution TO this toll was made by
a solitary plane that sank an en-
tire FIVE ship convoy, including a
loaded transport, in 75,minute at
tack of Formosa.
First Division Marines, advanc-
ing 500 yards on Shuri through in
cessant mortar fire, made the only
note worthy advance on Okinawa
where Adm. Chester W. Nimitz
said the enemy was still putting up
the heaviest kind OF resistance"
However, Some indication the
Japanese are disintegrating as an
overalI fighting unit" was seen by
MAJ Cen. John. r. Ho6gs, gath
Army Corps -cOnns9deT. He netfs
a sharp drop in enemy artillery FIRE,
which has been a major factor in
holding up the U. S, four division
advance.
To Be Base
A similar attitude was expressed
by 1t. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner,
Jr, Tenth Army commander who
said the island would become a
base for the assault on Japan. He
referred to the doomed and dwip-
ding" enemy garrison, SO badly cut
down that supply troops were being
thrown into the front line.
With Yanks killing IL Japanese
for every American lost, the re-
naming Nipponese force was esti-
mated at about 10000. q. S. cas-
ualties, including naval losses in
operations dating back to March
Is, were S0,526. OF these S,31O
we're killed or missing, and 22,216
wounded.
Attacks on Naha and Yonabaru'
on the flanks OF the Okinawa line,
apparently waited on the conquest
of Shuri which three divisions were
trying to envelop.
On Their own
The s00.yard first main drive car
ried the Devil Dodge to the north
ern edge OF the town. Flame
throwing tanks led the attack
through ravines to the base OF
the ridge. FROM theIe Oh the Hi"
rines we're on their own, fighting
their way from cave to cave with
grenades, rifles and back-packed
flamethrowers.
Fighting around Shuri matched
that on the outskirts of Naha,
where Sixth Division Marines re-
gained the summit OF Sugar Loaf
Hin for the fifth time Friday after
being pushed of Of it the night be-
fore. Japanese on the southern
slope were still a threat.
Nipponese planes made almost
daily raids on the Okinawa area,
losing 81 aircraft in these sorties
and L. S. carrier sweeps over the
northern Ryukyus.
Rain and mud slowed up action
on Luzon in the northern Philip
pines in two days on central Mind
anao, and the oath virtually en-
circled Sas airdrome on the coast,
so fiercely defended that Yank
burial details had to fight their way
to cemeteries through infltrating
japanese.