Evening star., 1945-06-22
The End on Okinuwu

he End on OkInuWu
The announcement that organ
lied resistance on Okinawa has
ended marks the conclusion, except
for the mopping up of scattered
japanese remnants. of what has
been the costliest and probably the
most desperate campaign Of the
Pacific war.
approximately 10000 Japanese
soldiers, preferring death to surren-
der. were killed. Another 2,565 were
taken prisoner. Our own casualties
have been in excess of $4,000, of
whom more than II 900 are dead. In
addition, we lost at least twenty-four
ships, and flfty-four more were dam
aged. Perhaps this is not a greater
price than our commanders expected
to pay for this vital stepping stone
on the route to Tokyo, but it is a
clear and a grim warning that
fight to the finish with Japan, and
that is the only thing we can safely
anticipate, is going to call for very
great exertion and very great sac
rif1ce.
The Okinawa campaign has
taught us certain lessons which will
be useful when our troops move on
the enemy's home islands, and this
is said without any implication that
the campaign was mishandled either
in its planning or operational stages.
1t has brought home to us, with
added force. the fact that the Japa-
nese soldier is tough, courageous
and formidable opponent. If there
have been any lingering doubts on
this score, they ought to be dispelled,
once and for all In their defense
Of Okinawa the Japanese for some
curious reason elected not to meet
us on the beaches. In other circum-
stances this might be explained by
an unwillingness to face the cover
ing gunf1re, but since the guns OF
our naval ships could reach them at
any point to which they might re-
tire for stand, this is hardly ten
able theory. In any event, our troops
walked ashore" when the attack
was made on April !, and they
speedily overran the northern and
central portions of the island
against light resistance. When they
turned southwark, however, and
came against the prepared japanese
positions, it was another story. The
enemy had more artillery than our
troops had ever encountered before,
and they used it to better effect.
The enemy ground forces fought
Skilfully and with fanatical deter
mination. Their suicide planes and
their baka bombs were hurled
against our forces in the spirit of
men who were resolved to do or die.
Without any doubt, the japanese,
no less than our own people. knew
the Importance of this island base
only 325 miles from the homeland,
and the character of their fight to
hold it clearly foreshadows the
quality of resistance we can expect
to meet when the time comes to
assault Japan. 1t will be a struggle
which will command the maximum
energies and the fullest determina-
tion of all of us, and it will be better
If we face that fact now.
In this connection there may be
significance in the disclosure that
General Joseph w. Stilwell has been
chosen to take over the command of
Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar
Buckner, who was killed in the
closing stages of the fight for
Okinawa. General Stilwell, Vine
gar Joe" to his troops, took what he
described as "a hell of a beating"
from the japanese in Burma, and he
went back to square accounts with
vengence. He does not believe there
has been any crack in japanese
morale, and he is convinced that
the enemy must be beaten on the
Asiatic mainland, as well as in his
home islands. There are those who
differ with this view, but there will
be few to doubt that the Tenth Army
is fortunate in its new commander.
General Stilwell is tough, aggres-
Sive fighter who knows his enemy.
His temperance in the Pacific will
bring no Joy to the hearts of the