April 20, 1945:Stout Resistance on Okinawa:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, APRIL20, 1945:

( See Below for Resolution adopted honoring Ernie Pyle)

PORTSMOUTH, N. H., FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 20, 1945

 Battle Against

Stout Defenses

Before Naha City

By the Associated Press

Three American Infantry divisions driving into deep Japanese defenses on Okinawa island today advanced slowly in the heaviest all-out offensive of the Pacific war as unopposed amphibious forces in the Philippines developed a second threat to Borneo on a newly conquered island.

The 24th army corps, consisting of the 7th, 27th and 96th divisions,

ended a 13 day stalemate on southern Okinawa yesterday morning, at tacking the front wall of the intricate Naha defense system, manned by perhaps 60,000 Japanese.

By noon they had advanced up to half a mile on the flanks. Tokyo radio claimed 40 or 50 of the scores of Yank tanks leading the attack were knocked out, the assault stopped and an attempt to land in the Nipponese rear was thwarted.

Adm. Chester W. Nimitz said a terrific bombardment and "(Treat flights of carrier aircraft" supported the offensive.

Mustang fighters from Iwo Jima knocked out 84 enemy planes in their first attack on the Tokyo area yesterday as they swept over the Atsugi naval air station at rooftop level. They also wrecked two cargo ships, contributing to a total of 18 destroyed or' damaged, mostly by Philippines-based bombers.

Three amphibious operations In the Philippines brought the seizure of the 44th and 45^th Islands and wide extension of the American held on Mindanao. The 41st division captured Bala.

Germans Throw

Central Reserves

Against Russians

By The Associated Press

German central reserves  were thrown into "the murderous battle at the gates of Berlin" today, the Nazi radio said, as Russian spearheads were reported threatening strongholds from four to 17 miles northeast and east of the smoking capital.

To meet a massive Red army push described as surging almost to the limits of greater Berlin, the Germans were forced virtually to turn their backs on the eastward surging Allies. Menacing Berlin from the west were the American

Ninth army, massed in a. growing .bridgehead on the Elbe, 45 miles from the -capital, and the U. S. Third, now reported 55 miles from Russian lines.

The British Second army's tanks had rumbled to the Elbe and within a mile of Hamburg's suburbs and the American Seventh was trampling out the last fanatical

resistance in the Nazi spectacle city of Nuernberg.

The German high command announced that Marshal Ivan S. Konevs' First Ukraine army had smashed through the Spree river defenses of the capital between Cottbus and Spremburg-'and entered Calau, 43 miles southeast of Berlin and only 59 miles from TJ. S. First army forces in the Wurzen area.

Nazi Propaganda Minister Goebbels marked his Fuehrer's 56th birthday gloomily that "the decision is very near."

Legislature Adopts

Resolution Honoring

Ernie Pyle's Memory

The New Hampshire Legislature yesterday adopted the following   concurrent resolution on the death of Ernie Pyle, war correspondent killed this week

on le Jima:

 "Whereas Ernie Pyle who rose from humble station to become the beloved. friend and champion of American GI fighting, forces the world over has died in action, and

"Whereas Ernie Pyle became a household name among the nation's millions of families, relatives and friends of our dauntless GI forces, because of his kind and sympathetic portrayal of their sacrifices for Democracy and the right to live free, and

"Whereas Emie Pyle brought lasting honor and glory to the basic principle of freedom of speech, and the traditions of his craft,

"Be it resolved, that we, the members of the New Hampshire General Court of 1945, extend our sympathy and sorrow over the nation's loss of Ernie Pyle."