Evening star., 1945-06-04
Yanks Register
Greatest Gains
0f0kiinawa War
Two-MiIe Advance to
Southern Shores Cuts
Off Chinen Peninsula
By the Associated Press.

UT Nnlnen fenInSul0
By the Associated Press.
GUAM, June 4.-In the great
est one-day advance in the Oki-
nawa campaign, American in
fantrymen splashed 2 miles
through drenching rains yester-
day to the southeastern shore of
the island, sealing off Chinen
Peninsula, which forms the
southern arm of the finest fleet
anchorage in the southern ap-
proacheS to Japan.
Tokyo broadcasts quoted "uncon-
firmed reports" that American am
phibious assault units landed near
the eastern tip of the peninsula to
catch isolated Japanese troops in a
two-Way trap while a fleet of more
than 40 vessels moved into the an
chorage-Nakagusuku Bay.
Three other fleets, including two
task forces which reappeared after
an absence of 10 days, were reported
by Tokyo to be in OkinaWan waters.
Japs Report Attack on Convoy.
japanese propagandists told of
suicide plane attacks on a heavily
escorted convoy of about 40 trans
ports" moving past Oroku Peninsula
on the west coast, where other
Yanks were arrayed today for a
smashing drive on Naha Airfleld,
the best in the Ryukyu Islands. In
two-hour "ramming assault, y
Tokyo said one unidentified craft
was set aflre.
The 2-mile push through mud
to the southern shores of OkinaWa
was made on 64th day of the cam
paign by Maj. Gen. Archibald "
Arnolds 7th Infanty Division. Other
elements of the division drove into
Chinen Peninsula itself where Japa-
nese soldiers complicated the Amer
lean assault by milling around
among thousands of civilians.
Associated Press War Correspond
ent Al Dopking reported that some
front-line officers predicted the next
48 hours would tell whether disor-
ganized japanese remnants could be
reformed into effective fighting
forces.
Rocket Boat Aids Yanks.
On the North Shore of Chinen
Peninsula Japs with mortars and
machine guns put up such a fight
American infantrymen called on a
rocket boat to break up the enemy
concentration.
Surprisingly rapid advances were
reported through the quagmires in
the central area by both the air.
supplied 1st Marine and Goth In
fantry Divisions. Some Japanese
we're knocked out IN a bayonet
charge, but others killed themselves
with grenades.
Meanwhile, the Japanese made
their first strong attack in five days
on American shipping off Okinawa.
Okinawa based fighters downed 26
attackers. Admiral Chester w.
Nimitz's communique made no men,
ton of possible damage to American
shipping.
Pointing up an offensive against
Oroku Peninsula, Marines of Maj.
Gen. Pedro A. del Valle's 1st Divis-
ion captured hill 200 yards north
of Karara, a mile and one-half di-
rectly inland from Naha Harbor on
the west coast.
Two Towns Captured.
Maj. Gen. James L. Bradley's 96th
Division Infantry captured the
towns of Terra and Kamizato in ad-
vances of 500 to 1900 yards.
Thus, these two divisions were in
position to wheel westward to Oroku
Peninsula. where Japs driven from
Naha, are expected to attempt a
strong defense around Naha air.
field.
Together, these divisions have won
complete control of the Naha- -Yona-
baru highway, insuring improved
supply and transport.
Maj. Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd,
jr.'s, 9th Marine Division, conqueror
of Naha, rested yesterday north of
Kokuba River, presumably organiz-
ing for an assault on Oroku PENN
sula.
With nowhere else to go, japanese
defenders, who still may total nearly
10000 troops, apparently were being
forced swiftly toward a last-ditch
stand in hills in the extreme south
ern end of the island.
Japanese Withdrawing.
The Yanks' sweeping advances
along the entire front were driving
before them the withdrawing Japa-
nese, who already had been forced
beyond hilly area, where they had
been expected to attempt to establish
a secondary defense line.
The 7th Divisions advance cap
tured the town of Shinzato, which
controls the northern approach to
Chinen Peninsula and pushed on
1000 yards to the vicinity of Sashiki.
A mile and one-half south the
184th Regiment of Gen. Arnold's di-
vision seized heights near Toyama,
guardian of the Chinen Peninsula s
southern approach and reached the
southeastern shore.
TUo additional men from
| the District area hare been re- |