Evening star., 1941-12-26
Philippines
Continued From First Page)

been very heavy pressure by the
enemy on the southeastern front"
where the Japanese are attacking
toward Manila from their Lamon
Bay beaches IS to rs miles from the
capital.
Tank battling on that 'front.'" the
communique said, has resulted in
heavy casualties on both sides"
1t repeated an earlier war bulletin
that enemy action on the northern
front, some 10 miles from Manila.
was largely heavy and concentrated
artillery flre."
An Army spokesman said investi-
CATION had disclosed that there had
been no Japanese landing at Ma
sugbu. only IS miles south OF the
entrance to Manila Bay, as reported
earlier in Washington.
He said q special patrol sent to
check the report said no troops were
sighted in that section.
Heavy Toll at San Pablo.
Manila newspapers, meanwhile,
reported that more than 100 persons
had been killed In japanese air raids
on provincial towns. with the heavi-
est toll at San Pablo. Laguna Prov
ince, south OF Manila. Santa Cruz
and Los Banos. Laguna Province,
also were said to have been bombed
heavily, along with towns in Nueva
Ecija and Turlac Provinces north Of
the capital.
Despite the strength Of the Japa-
nese attacks the army declared the
fighting was going well' in all Sec
tors and Francis B. Sayre, United
States High Commissioner, pledged
that I'VE will fight to the last man. "
An hour after Gen. Macarthur
proclaimed Manila an open city the
air raid sirens screamed.
However, no enemy planes ap-
peared over the city proper and
water front observers said the Japa-
nese might be concentrating against
the Corregidor Island fortress at the
entrance to Manila Bay.
This belief was based on the fact
that waves OF Japanese planes. after
circling over the city, flew to the
west above Manila Bay.
In one midmorning raid the jap
anese bombers concentrated on Z
Government pier in the harbor, but
most OF their bombs fell in the
water. One, striking the edge OF the
pier. killed at least two workers
A freighter tied up at the pier wa
not damaged.
OIL Stores Set Aflre.
Some oil stores were set afire ir
another raid near the city. Hardest
hit were installations Of the Stand
ard Vacuum OIL Co. Flaming o.
spread onto the Pasig River.
The text Of Gen. MacArthur's proc
lamation follows:
I'm order to spare the metropolitan
area from the possible ravages Of at
tack either in the air or on tn
ground, Manila is hereby declared a
open city without the characteristic
| VI q Llllltoly OUJCCUANC.
In order that no excuse may b
given for q possible mistake, tn
American high commissioner. tn
commonwealth government and a
combatant military installations wi
be withdrawn from its environs q
rapidly as possible.
"The municipal government wi
continue to function, with its polio
powers reinforced by constabular
and troops 50 the normal protectio
OF life and property may be pre-
served.
Citizens are requested to main
tain obedience to the constituted au
thorities and continue the norma
process Of business"
Sayre Transfers ONCE.
As soon as the order, which va
dated December "A, was announce,
Mr.. sayre said he was transferrin
his ONCE outside Manila.
Mr.. Sayre declared that I'VE kro'
our fight Is Americas fight. Amer
ica's help is sure. There can be NJ
J shadow Of question as to the dlt!
. mate victory"
, President Manuel Quezon an
. nounced he was leaving Manila O