Evening star., 1941-12-24

reported in from the scene that some
buildings were burning.
A communique issued from Army
headquarters at pm. q am, East
ern Standard time) said American
and Filipino troops were resisting
Stubbornly" on both fronts but add
ed ominously: The enemy con-
tinues to land reinforcements.'
The official bulletin, which de-
scribed fighting in both sectors a.
very heavy" failed to say whether
the invaders were making any prog
ress toward Manila.
U. S. Forces Outnumbered.
Forty transports are of the coast
Of Atimonan," the communique de-
clared. Fighting is very heavy
United States armed forces Of the
Far East troops are behaving very
well but are greatly outnumbered.
There is very heavy fighting in
the north. Our troops there are be-
having admirably against great
odds"
Word from Atimonan by telephone
said several transport loads a Jap
anese landed under cover OF heavy
fire from the sea.
Observers here expressed the view
however, that the only dangerous
japanese landing SO far was that
along the Gulf Of Lingayen north
west of Manila.
They said the japanese push from
Legaspi on extreme southern Luzon
had been stopped by blowing up
bridges across deep ravines, and that
the japanese had made no advance
from Aparri, in extreme northern
Luzon. where the landing was IN
tended apparently only to establish
an air base.
Any japanese thrust from Atimo-
nan. these sources declared. could
be stopped just as the Legaspi push
was. by dynamiting vital bridges
and blowing out sections OF the roac
through the mountains.
May Declare Manila Open City.
AS the new overland threat to Ma
Mia developed, Army headquarter'
announced that military authorize!
were considering declaring the capi
tai an open city to spare it from IAN!
possible air or ground attacks. tn
announcement recalled that simila
declarations were made with respec
to Paris. Brussels, Athens, Rom
land other capitals" earlier in tn
war.
Disclosure that such q step wa
under consideration followed by sew
eral hours a midmorning raid o.
the Manila port area by nine Japa
nese bombers-the first on that sec
ton since the beginning OF hostil
tiles.
Great clouds of black smoke rollet
up from the waterfront as Japa
nese planes swept away over For
Mckinley in a rain of steel from
anti-aircraft guns. One Of tn
raiders was officially reporte'
downed and several others wer
believed destroyed.
The all clear was sounded in Ma
Mia after IS minutes. Considerabl
damage apparently was done t
buildings along the waterfront.
Shortly after p m. a second alarr
sounded. Eleven silver painted Jap
anese planes few in from the soutl
half an hour later and the all-clea
was sounded at 1:48 pm.
A third air raid alarm sounde,
shortly after pm. No enemy plane
appeared over the city and the all
clear came half an hour later.
Attack Near Batangas.
An Army spokesman said tha
before landing at Atimonan tn
japanese had made an attack O.
the southwest coast of the islam
near Batangas, but had been drive
of.
Observers here interpreted the ne'
japanese thrust as an attempt t
force Gen. Douglas Macarthur t
split his forces and thus weake
resistance on the vital norther
front.
According to last reports the de
tenders there were holding a lin
north of Damortis, 120 miles fror
Manila, against the persistent ham
mering of strong japanese force
; which began landing from a flee
, of 80 transports in the Gulf of Lin
| gayen Sunday.
The morning communique frol
) Gen. MacArthur's headQuartel
failed to say whether the norther
! invaders. who were reported yestel
5 day to be using light tanks in a
: attempt to fight their way south
ward, had been able to make ar
progress.
r An Army spokesman, howeve
t said the Japanese air force was 81
z tacking at many points, apparent
in an attempt to blast America
lines of communication.
e He disclosed that in one aSsau