SECRET                                                                                    20 MAR 45

FROM:         5TH MAR DIV
TO     :          VAC                                         TO:      HQ EXPED TRS   X    4TH MAR D
IV

THIS IS SECRET X DISPATCH SUMMARY FOR THE PERIOD 191700 TO 201700 FOLLOWS X
DURING THE NIGHT CT-26 WITH ATTACHED BATTALIONS KILLED A

TOTAL OF 54 JAPS IN FRONT OF AND WITHIN THEIR LINES X 4 JAPS MANAGED TO
REACH THE VICINITY OF THE BN DUMP OF LT-126 AND OF THESE 1 WAS

KILLED AND TH OTHERS HEADED IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION X SNIPERS WERE
FEWER BUT HAND GRENADE EXCHANGES CONTINUED AS ON PREVIOUS NIGHTS X

LT-328 REPORTED ENEMY MOVEMENT AND TALKING AND THE MOVEMENT APPEARED
TO BE IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTIONS X CT-28 HAD A RELATIVELY QUIET

NIGHT AND ONLY OCCASIONAL SNIPER FIRE WAS EXPERIENCED X LT-128 SAW JAPS
DIGGING AT THE SE END OF THE POCKET IN THE BOTTOM OF THE DRAW X PROGRESS

TODAY WAS SLOWED BY EXTREMELY ACCURATE SMALL ARMS FIRE AND MINES X
ENGINEERS AND TANKS PACED THE ATTACK AND LT-126 PATROLS REACHED THE

DRAW KILLING AN ESTIMATED 80 ENEMY X LT-327 ENCOUNTERED EXCELLENT
POSITIONS AND ACCURATE FIRE CONTINUED TO COME FROM THE MANY CAVES X THE

CONCRETE STRUCTURE IN TA 234E SOUTHWEST WAS AGAIN ASSAULTED BY FORTY
POUND SHAPE CHARGES AND TANKS 75MM GUNS TO NO AVAIL X AIR VENTS AND A

DOOR ON THE NORTH SIDE WERE CLOSED BY A DOZER X THERE ARE 36 TANKS
OPERATIONAL OF WHICH 5 ARE FLAME THROWERS X ONE REGULAR AND TWO FLAME

THROWING TANKS ARE FROM 4TH MARDIV X OWN CASUALTIES AS OF 1500 X KIA 87
OFFICERS 173 ENL X WIA 245 OFFICERS 5895 ENL X MIA 5 OFFICERS 182

ENL X SK 20 OFFICERS 851 ENL X TOTAL CASUALTIES 357 OFFICERS 8663 ENL X
INTERRED IN DIV CEMETERY 73 OFFICERS 1803 ENL 44 UNIDENTIFIED X ENEMY

CASUALTIES 10547 X PW 57 X SUPPLY X THERE WERE 26 EVACUATIONS BY AIR
DURING THE LAST 24 HOURS X THERE ARE 18 DISTILLATION UNITS IN]

OPERATION WITH 19715 GALLONS BEING PRODUCED DURING LAST 24 HOURS X THERE
ARE 85000 GALLONS IN DIV DUMP X 13TH MARINES CONTINUED TO L OVER

WHITE AND BLUE BEACHES X 27TH MARINES BEGAN SPOTTING FOR LOADING OFF
WHITE BEACH X THERE ARE ONLY 88 ROUNDS OF 60MM MORTAR ILLUMINATING
AMMUNITION WITHIN THE DIV X OTHERWISE SUPPLY SITUATION SATISFACTORY X NO
CHANGE IN LOCATION OF COMMAND POSTS X

                              RAY A. ROBINSON
                              COLONEL, USMC
                              CHIEF OF STAFF