Japanese machine gun fire began inflicting heavy casualties, killing or wounding one in ten of the landing Marines as they scrambled inland in an attempt to get out of the crossfire coming from the two islets.
Japanske maskingeværer begyndte straks at forårsage store tab idet de dræbte eller sårede hver tiende marinesoldat mens de hastede ind i landet i et forsøg på at slippe ud af krydsilden fra de to småøer.