The Ypsilanti Daily Press

Troops Storm
Onto Shores
of Eniwetok

Eniwetok Atoll, Feb. 17-(Delayed)-INS-The 22nd Division Marines and 106th Army Infantry stormed ashore on Eniwetok Atoll this morning, choking off the Japanese air supply lines to the enemy bases on Wake and in the eastern Marshalls. They are in possession of the western half of the island.

The Marines and Army troops executed their daring mission under cover of a terrific naval and air bombardment of the 21-mile Atoll by United States warships and swarms of carrier planes.

In a flanking movement on Engebi Island, which is situated on the northern tip of the Atoll, the Marines first seized several smaller islands adjoining Engebi.

This was the pattern that was followed in the successful invasion of Kwajalein Atoll, the heart of the Marshalls.

In less than seven hours the Marines captured the prized airfield on Engebi—a runway of 5,000 feet by 300 feet wide.

Big land based American bombers will be able to use this strip for regular raids on Truk and other hitherto untouchable enemy bases in the Caroline and Mariana Islands.

Eniwetok Atoll is only 170 miles from Truk, approximately 600 from Wake and less than 400 miles from Ponape, on the eastern fringe of the Carolines. Ponape is the only Jap base between Eniwetok and Truk.

The invasion of Eniwetok brings the forces of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and General Douglas MacArthur even closer together as the gigantic United States Pacific pincers really begins to pinch the Japs.

Eniwetok Atoll is composed of 30 coral isles, three of which are significant—Engebi, Parry and Eniwetok. The latter two are located on the southern part of the Atoll and adjoin each other.

Parry is 3,000 yards long and 500 yards at its widest point. Eniwetok is 5,000 yards long and 600 yards wide.

Without Eniwetok, the outer rim of Jap defenses are isolated from air and sea routes and will be endangered by United States air patrols flying from the newly acquired base on Engebi.