he was for continuing the defensive attrition tactics that had bled the American forces for three weeks. Yahara observed that the enemy’s advance toward Shuri had been held to a pace of about 100 meters per day. To send the Japanese troops out of their secure fortifications, to expose them to the enemy’s vast array of artillery, naval firepower, and air power, would be “reckless and would lead to certain defeat.”8 But Cho’s desire to seize the initiative resonated with the division and field commanders, who foresaw that Yahara’s defensive tactics must lead eventually to total defeat.
