U. S. Marines Storm Ashore on Iwo Island

U. S. Marines Storm Ashore on Iwo Island
LANDING EFFECTED Nimitz Reports Invasion of Volcano Isle 750 Miles From Tokyo FIERCE FIGHTING IS ON Japanese Report Battle at Futatsune Beach on Southwest Coast
By The Associated Press

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Fleet in Manila Bay, U. S. Radio Reports

Advanced Headquarters, Guam, Monday, Feb. 19 - American Marines, their path cleared by the most intensive neutralization campaign of the Pacific war, have landed on strategic little Iwo Island, one of the Volcano group, 750 statute miles south of Tokyo.

The landing was made this (Monday) morning. The Fourth and Fifth Marine Divisions made this first Marine Operation since the Palaus were invaded last September. [lieut. Gen. Holland M. Smith, victor over the Japanese on Saipan, was in command of the Marines, The United Press said.]

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz announced in a special communiqu & eacute; today the momentous development in the fast-moving pacific war which put American troops on the logical ocean stepping-stone to Tokyo.

Iwo is so close to Tokyo that it is administered by Tokyo prefecture.

American fighters and medium bombers based on Iwo's large air-drome would be within land-based striking range of Tokyo for the first time.

Japanese Tell of Invasion

American troops going ashore in 100 landing boats made a successful landing on Iwo at 8 A. M. Monday (Japanese time), the Tokyo radio announced late last night.

A broadcast, recorded by The United Press in San Francisco, said "part of the enemy forces have landed."

It was the first indication from the enemy radio that a successful landing had been made. Previously Tokyo had reported four "attempted landings were made or the island Saturday but had been "repulsed."

The text of the enemy broadcast:

"Following a series of abortive landing attempts, a part of the enemy forces have finally started landings on Iwo Jima since 8 o'clock this Monday morning."

Heavy Fighting Reported

"The landing is being made on the southeast coast of the island. The Japanese garrison, immediately pushing the enemy invaders back to the shore, is now engaged in fierce counter-attack against the enemy.

"The landing was preceded by persistent naval and air attacks since early last Wednesday morning."

The Japanese Domei agency declared that the landing forces had hit Futatsune beach on the south-western sector of the island.

In an English-language dispatch recorded by the Federal Communications Commission, Domei said that the "enemy forces were reinforcing the first group with troops that are approaching the beach in two separate groups."

The Tokyo radio, meanwhile, said that 100 landing barges began "large-scale simultaneous landings at the eastern and southern sectors of the island." The broadcast, recorded by the FCC, also placed the time of the initial landing at 8 A. M.

"The enemy is making preparation for the landing with reinforcements consisting of about 200 landing barges," the broadcast said.

The broadcast asserted that Japanese garrison units "intercepted" the American landing force on the beach and claimed that "they are carrying on a ghastly interception battle with the cooperation of the coastal artillery and air force."

Tokyo had reported previously that American forces had made four earlier attempts to land on the island but asserted that in all four cases that the attempts had been "frustrated" by the Japanese garrison.

Earlier yesterday, Domei had announced that units of the fleet that had been bombarding Iwo were continuing their "bitter barrage."

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