Evening star., 1941-12-23
Japanese Checked
In Luzon Fighting

MAN LILA, DtC. 10 tf.lS phi 10
am, E. S. TD (P).-United States
Army headquarters announced to-
day that sharp fighting was con-
tinuing in Northern Luzon, but said
there had been no change in posi-
tions since yesterday, when the jap
anese landed strong forces at Santo
Tomas, approximately 125 miles from
Manila.
(American and Philippine
troops have attained some initial
successes in "a major engage
ment" in combat operations
which are continuing with in
creasing intensity along the east
ern shore of Lingayen Gulf, the
War Department announced in a
communique issued at 1890 am.
today. The communique said
japanese troops are continuing to
land between Agoo and San Fer
nando)
Observers here interpreted the
Army announcement as indicating
that American and Filipino troops,
reported earlier to be holding line
north of Damortis, four miles below
Santo Tomas, had checked japanese
efforts to advance southwark.
Evacuees Bombed.
Heavy casualties resulted this
afternoon when three japanese
planes bombed a center which had
been reserved for persons evacu-
ated from Manila and other towns.
The planes apparently were aim
ing at the nearby gsaoline stores OF
q private company.
The attack was the first affecting
any of the numerous evacuation GEN.
ters to which residents of crowded
districts had been taken under Red
Cross supervision.
Headquarters said reports up to
9 pm. q am, E. S. t. were not
sufficient to warrant special COM
muniuue. In the absence of further
official word. it was believed here
that heavy fighting would continue
through the night on the fiat plain
bordering the Gulf of Lingayen.
United States Far Eastern Army
headquarters said there was no con-
firmstion of persistent reports thai
Al Japanese transports had beer
sunk at Lingayen in Northern Lu'
zon. (There has been no mention
in previous Manila dispatches o.
such reports and this message die
not even indicate their sourceD
The communique said the invader
had been very active in the air,
but independent reports said the.
were being hammered hard by Amer
lean airmen, who were reported t
have beaten off one attempted land
ing under the guns of japanese de
stroyers.
The situation in the Davao are
on Mindanao Island south of Luzon
where American troops have beel
engaged in sharp fighting with
japanese landing force, was de
scribed officially as obscure"
(The Dutch reported that their
naval aircraft, aiding United
States forces battling the invasion
of Mindanao Island, had attacked
Japanese ships in the harbor Of
Davao.
(The japanese claimed the
complete occupation of Davao at
S pm. Saturday by Nipponese
forces which had landed on Min
danao Island at dawn that day.
A Berlin broadcast of Trans
ocean dispatch from Toxic said
japanese imperial headquarters
reported that new troop land
ings were carried out early today
at several points on the island
of Luzon)
An Army spokesman said 1t ha
not been determined exactly ho'
many troops the japanese had bee
able to land at Santo Tomas. Al
though the number was believe
large, the spokesman said he wa
certain it was below Washingto
estimates on the number of troop
involved in the invasion attempt.
The War Department in Washing
ton said yesterday that betwee
10000 and 100000 Japanese troop
were believed aboard a fleet of 8
transports which had been sighte
OF the Luzon coast.
The regular morning communiqu
issued by Gen, Douglas Macarthur