The Free Lance-Star (July 3, 1944)
Ridge positions taken on Saipan
Big battle imminent as Americans push advance
USPACFLT HQ, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (AP) –
Grim Americans held strategic new ridge positions today above the town of Garapan and nearby Tanapag Harbor, on the northwestern coastal stretch of Saipan which may center a now-imminent showdown battle.
Gains of from 500 yards to a mile were made along the entire front Saturday, Adm. Chester W. Nimitz announced, bringing about 60 percent of Saipan under U.S. control. Garapan was surrounded on three sides. U.S. units on the east coast were five and a half miles from the island’s northern tip, where the Japanese have an airdrome at Marpi Point.
Earlier, Nimitz reported the burial of 6,015 Japanese dead, the capture of more than 200 prisoners, destruction or capture of 80 tanks, from June 14 through June 29.
Howard Handleman, representing the combined Allied press, said the Americans expected to meet large Japanese forces soon in a decisive battle somewhere near northern Garapan and Tanapag Harbor, which begins its upward swing a short distance beyond the town.
Saturday’s attack was made under aerial, naval and artillery bombardment. It was proceeded by a pre-dawn Japanese aerial thrust at transports and screening vessels, which was repulsed with “no damage.” Two of several Nipponese planes were shot down during this tenth Japanese aerial counterattack in the Saipan campaign.
Yanks storming heights east of Garapan added a third side to encirclement of that former capital; surrounded previously by land forces on the south and naval units on the west.