The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-29
Message Sent Out To
 Filipinos Last Night
Continued from Page 1)

NCOAbAAAhSo ern boundary is only about 25 miles from the City of Manila. The north ern boundary of this province is about GO miles south of the Gulf Of LIngayen, scene of the heaviest Japanese landings.
 In High Spirits
 The communique said American and Filipino troops "are In high spir- It's and are offering stubborn resist ance" against "heavy odds"
 It reported heavy losses on both sides and noted that the invading forces have been heavily reinforced in the last few days by several iil- fantry divisions, tank regiments and horse cavalry.
 Japanese units are composed of veteran soldiers with modern equip- merlt,' 1t said.
 The communique also took note of continued heavy enemy air activity and repeated bombing Of Manila in violation of the declaration of an open city"
 In connection with the Presidents message to the Philippine peoples, Early was reminded that some quarters interpreted 1t as 6 state- ment to prepare the public for loss of the islands.
 "T saw nothing in the statement to justify that" he said.
 He commented, however, that morning newspaper headlines seeiil- cd to him to stress "too much Of the immediate rather than the ultl- mate," and observed that military operations to aid 0 distant point often require considerable time.
 Help Is Assured
 Philippine resident Commissioner Joaquin M. Ellzalde in 6 shortwave broadcast to his ennbattled home land, assured his countrymen that "help will be forthcoming"
 "The United states is 100 per cent with us in our struggle against the invader All officials here are strain ing every sinew to support the bat- tle-line," he said
 Ellzalde praised President Roose- velt's pledge of aid to the islands, and said 1t would do much to raise the hopes of the bolab-blasted pop- ulace as well as of the men in tho front lines.
 My countrymen, you are fighting for freedom and for independence, Elizalde said by shortwave to his people. "You are fighting for your own future. God speed"
 Early said Prime Minister Win ston Churchills departure last night for Ottawa had given the President e breathing spell and that MT Roosevelt had only two appoint- ments for today--with Netherlands Minister Dr. A. Loudon at noon, and Admiral Ernest J. King, command er-in-chief of the United States fleet, at luncheon.
 At the State Department, meaf1- time, Secretary Cordell Hull ar- ranged to confer with British Afrl- bassador Lord Halifax and Soviet Ambassador Maxim Litvinov.
 MT. RooseveltS solemn pledge" to redeem Philippine independence was coupled last night with navy promise of positive assistance" for the defenders of the islands.
 Sent Last Night
 The messages to the Filipinos whose undefended capital bore the brunt of heavy weekend bombings were dispatched last night. They were interpreted here as efforts tc counteract Japanese propaganda afic fifth column efforts in the islands.
 The Japanese have been seeking to exploit nationalist sentiment among the Filipinos who are sched- uled to obtain independence from the United Sattes in i048. They also have been circulating ruinors about inactivity of the U. s. fleet which the navy says are designed to trick this country Into disclosing It's loca- ton and intention.
 MT. Roosevelt told the i6,350,000 Filipinos in a dramatic short wave radio message that the entire fight ing manpower and resources of the United States stand behind his pledge, The transcribed message broadcast by short wave to Manila shortly after 8 D. Ti1., and rebroad- cast there immediately.
 The navy--for obvious reasons gave no hint of the "well-planned campaign" the Pacific fleet is em- parked upon to aid general Douglas McArthur's Philippines defense forces.
 But the fleet "is not idle" the navy said, despite rumors circulated by Japan.
 Tt is obvious that these rumors are intended and directed at the Philippine Islands," the navy's a1l- nouncement said.
 ''The Philippines may rest assured that while the United States navy will not be tricked into disclosing vital information, the fleet is not idle.
 Navy Following Plan
 "The United States navy is fol- lowing an intensive ana well planned campaign against the Japanese forces which will result in positive assistance to the defense of the Philippine Islands"
 Until this announcement, navy communiques had told mostly of offensive action by submarines which were credited with sinking thrn mine sweeper and probably anoth