SECRET 23 MAR 45 FROM: 5TH MAR DIV TO : VAC INFO: EXTROPAC X 3D MAR DIV THIS IS SECRET X DISPATCH SUMMARY FOR THE PERIOD 221700 TO 231700 FOLLOWS X LT 3/28 KILLED 22 JAPS DURING THE NIGHT ATTEMPTING TO INFILTRATE THROUGH THE LINES X THE FRONT LINE COMPANY COMMANDERS BELIEVED THESE JAPS WERE IN QUEST OF FOOD AND WATER X LT 3/27 HAD A HEAVY GRENADE BATTLE AND RECEIVED SOME KNEE MORTAR FIRE AT 2100 FROM A RAVINE IN THE SOUTHWESTERN OF THE GORGE X AT DAYLIGHT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT 7 JAPS HAD BEEN KILLED BY ANTI*PERSONNEL MINES SET IN 250W BY LT 2/28 X DURING THE DAY A TROUBLESOME POCKET OF RESISTANCE IN REAR OF LT 2/28'S LEFT FLANK WAS REDUCED and A TOTAL OF 40 DEAD JAPS WERE COUNTED X THIS POCKET WAS LOCATED IN 250V (SE) W (SW) AND 234D (NW) X UNTIL THE MAJORITY OF THE CAVES ON THE SOUTHWESTERN SIDE OF THE GORGE WERE REDUCED BY 37MM GUNFIRE DEMOLITIONS AND FLAME THROWERS OUR DAYLIGHT PROGRESS WAS SLOW BEING RETARDED MAINLY BY RIFLE FIRE AND HAND GRENADES X RESISTANCE APPEARS TO CENTER IN THE CAVES IN THE SOUTHWESTERN BANK X LATE IN THE PERIOD ORGANIZED RESISTANCE APPEARED TO BREAK X HARASSING RIFLE FIRE CONTINUES TO BE RECEIVED FROM THOSE CAVES WHICH REMAIN TO BE SEALED X THERE ARE 33 TANKS OPERATIONAL 4 OF WHICH ARE FLAME THROWERS X OF THESE TANKS 2 REGULAR AND 2 FLAME THROWER ARE FROM THE 4TH MARDIV X OWN CASUALTIES AS OF 1500 KIA 89 OFFICERS 1841 ENL WIA 246 OFFICERS 6046 ENL X MIA 4 OFFICERS 174 ENL X SK 20 OFFICERS 897 ENL X TOTAL CASUALTIES 359 OFFICERS 8958 ENL X INTERRED IN DIV CEMETERY 75 OFFICERS 1913 ENL 52 UNIDENTIFIED X 51 AWAITING INTERMENT X ENEMY DEAD 10901 X POW 61 X 27TH MARINES REEMBARKED X CONTINUED TO LOAD SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT NOT NEEDED FOR OPERATIONAL USE OVER WHITE BEACH X CT 27'S CP OPENED ON AP 171 THE USS STORM KING X FRONT LINES AS OF 1700 X 250X NORTH TO 250X CENTER TO 250X SOUTH TO 234D CENTER TO 234D WEST TO 259W CENTER X RAY A. ROBINSON COLONEL, USMC CHIEF OF STAFF