SECRET                                     21 MAR 45

FROM:       5TH MAR DIV
TO  :       VAC                     INFO:  EXTROPAC  X  3D MAR DIV

THIS IS SECRET X DISPATCH SUMMARY FOR THE PERIOD 201700 TO 211700 FOLLOWS X
DURING THE NIGHT IN THE Z OF A OF CT 26 AN ESTIMATED TOTAL

OF 22 JAPS WERE KILLED IN ATTEMPTS TO PROBE OUR LINES BY AN UNDETERMINED
NUMBER X PENETRATIONS WERE ACCOMPLISHED BY SMALL ARMS AND GRENADE

EXCHANGES  CONTINUED FROM DUSK TO DAWN X IN THE Z OF A OF 328 4 JAPS WERE
DISCOVERED WALKING GOWN THE ROAD 3 WERE KILLED THE FOURTH GOT AWAY X

CT 28 KILLED A TOTAL OF 21 JAPS ONE OF WHICH SET OFF A TRIP FLARE IN THE
REGIMENTAL CP AND EXPLODED WHEN SHOT BY A MACHINE GUN X THE REMAINING

20 WERE KILLED IN NIGHT LONG ATTEMPTS TO INFILTRATE LINES OF LT 128 X
SURPRISINGLY FEW JAPS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN SEEN IN TODAYS FIGHTING BUT

ACCURATE SMALL ARMS FIRE CONTINUES TO GREET FORWARD MOVEMENT X FIRE
EMANATES FROM CAVES AND SPIDER TRAPS WHICH FORWARD ELEMENTS

BELIEVE TO BE CONNECTED BY SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGES X THE ENEMY GIVES NO
GROUND WHEN FACED BY CERTAIN DEATH THUS FORCING UR TROOPS TO ELIMINATE

HIM ONE BY ONE IN A BATTLE OF ATTRITION S JAPS CONTINUE TO APPEAR IN MARINE
HELMETS AND EVIDENTLY FAVOR THE M-1 OVER THEIR OWN PIECES X

THERE ARE 36 TANKS OPERATIONAL OF WHICH 5 ARE FLAME THROWERS OF THESE
TANKS ONE REGULAR AND TWO FLAME THROWERS ARE FROM THE 4TH MARDIV X
FRONT

LINES AS 1700 X 250S CENTER TO 234E CENTER TO CR 291 TO 250W CENTER X OWN
CASUALTIES AS OF 16=500 X KIA 809 OFFICERS 1779 ENL X WIA 243 OFFICERS

5290 ENL X MIA 4 OFFICERS 177 ENL X SK 20 OFFICERS 851 ENL TX TOTAL CASUALTIES
356 OFFICERS 8727 ENL X INTERRED IN DIV CEMETERY 74 OFFICERS

1802 ENL 45 UNIDENTIFIED X 41 AWAITING INTERMENT X ENEMY DEAD 10584 X POW 59
X SUPPLY X SINCE 1800 20 MARCH ALL EVACUATION OF CASUALTIES TO 38TH FIELD

HOSPITAL X THERE ARE 14 DISTILLATION UNITS IN OPERATION X 13000 GALLONS OF
WATER PRODUCED DURING THE LAST 24 HOURS X THERE ARE

90000 GALLONS OF WATER IN DIV DUMP X PRACTICALLY ALL OF THE 13TH MARINES
ARE REEMBARKED X LOADING CONTINUED OVER WHITE BEACH OF 27TH MARINE

EQUIPMENT AND MISCELLANEOUS CARGO X 60MM MORTAR ILLUMINATING AMMO
CRITICAL SUPPLY SITUATION SATISFACTORY OTHERWISE X NO CHANGE IN LOCATION
OF CP'S X

                              RAY A. ROBINSON
                              COLONEL, USMC
                              CHIEF OF STAFF