The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-24
Gen. MacArthur Has Token Lead Of Troops
tcuntlnued from PaEe D

which enables him to shift troops from groat to front as Japanese at. taoks develop, The Japanese, In con- trast, were operating on the peril meter of the island without direct contact between the separate attack ing forces,
 Manila Open City
 MacArthur's decision to take the field also may be linked with SsSS announcement by authorities that Manila may be declared an open city Co spare 1t, if possible, from repeat cd Japanese bombing attacks,
 The Japanese air force was heav- ily engaged today, In addition to at- tAcking Manila area obJeetiVes the Japanese attempted to bomb Clark Field, near Fort StotSenberg north vest ot Manila, One of three at lacking planes was shot down by anti-AircrAft gunnerS,
 The town of Maseota in Monoada province, was bombed NS were Tar lNc and bucena, No great damage or casualties were reported In these Rt- tacks. ,
 Japanese planes attacked the port area of Manila Savagely as invasion forces Co north Nnd south struck at the heavily outnumhered United states and Philippines army, Re- ports reached army headquarters that heavy Japanese achievements were landing on the coast,
 Announcement that the situation was so serious that troops of the Manila defense force were being sent to the front came in Q special coInmunique of American forces in tho Far East headquarters Nt 6;50 D. na, (S;S0 ., m, ESTl;
 "The forward echelon of this headquarters tS taking tho field"
 The announcement came after tha disclosure that army authorities now consider declaring the capital an open city,
 "A declaration that Manila was an open city would mean that it would be established as a purely civilian area and would not be de- tended If the Japanese reached itJ
 A eommunique of the hcadquRr- ters of United States forces in the Far East, issued Rt 4;S0 p, m, (2;S0 a. m. EST, said;
 Heavy Fighting
 "Vepy heavy fighting continued on tho northern and southern front, In both areas our troops are resisting Stubhornly, The enemy continued to land achievements,
 Tn order to spare Manila from any possible air or ground attacks consideration Is being given by mill. taEy authorities to declaring Manila an open city, as was done in the caBe of Paris, Brussels and Rome during this war"
 Unlted States and Philippine forc0s, already heavily outnumeered and facing increasing odds as tho Japanese landed additional reln- feFeements, were fighting furious ef- fensives In the zones southeast and northeast of Manila as tho Japanese planes struck at tho capital In waves,
 Numerous civilian casualties, in- cludlng fatalities, were caused by demolition and ineendiAry bombs in tho first ot three raids on the port area.
 "A military spokesman said one Japanese plane was known to have been shot down and it was reported but not confirmed that others had been destroyed,
 The JapaneSe had opened two major oGfenAves, ono on the Gulf oH tAngAyen northwest ot Manila ard tho other in the AtimonAn area oA TayabAs Province, to the south weRA where a formidable invasion torc0 had been landed under cover Of darkness carly today
 Forty Japanes0 troop transports lad appeared of the Luson Island coast 70 miles southeast Of Manila to reinforce 0 new Japanese lal1de iIag group ln tho AtimonAn area, when the first enemy planes ap. peared over the capital and air raid sirens sounded ct ii:iA ., m,
 Within Q few minutes bombs, eSus mated Co weigh as muhe aS HOO pounds, were dropping In the port area ard smoke could be seen ris. ina from fires,
 By mid-afternoon the third raid Of the day was underway.
 Filipino firemen fought under q TAin Of ineendiary and explosive bombs to put out fires,
 Though casualties were severe among people who remained ln the open, those who took cover in the numerous air raid shelters of the port area emerged safe,