The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-22

TR Wna known, however, that 1annnese planes were active over Mlndanao In support of ground forces.
 tA navy ccn1inunique issued ct washington yesterday said slight damage resulted from Q light Japa- nese raid on Cavlte. A war depart naent communique said there had been numerous Japanese raids in the 94 hours between Saturday and Sunday on Luzon, Cebu and Min- danao Islands, and that land tlght- Ing continued at Davao. This com mun!que reported increased Japa- nese patrol activity in northern Tuzon, and aggressive Japanese at- tognpts at infiltration. It was noted that there were indications that the Japanese sought progressively to reinforce their troops).
 An army communique reviewing the second week of the war noted yesterday that there was increasing activity on the invasion fronts, with the Japanese seking to con- slilldate their footholds, It said that there was heavy fighting In the DaVao zone.
 sThe communique recalled that two Japanese transports had been dam aged by American planes during the week, that five Japanese planes lind been shot down and that 2b nlanes had been destroyed aground. This brought to 70 the total of Japa- Xiese planes destroyed in two weeks,
 American Communique
 WaShington, Dec. 22-tUP)--The greatest land battle of the l5-day cd war--with American and Fillpl- no defenders offering "fierse resist Lnce" to c Japanese invasion force of 80,000 to 100000 men--is in pro- yress ct Lingayen Gulf, lSo miles forth of Manila.
 The terSe words Of army com- Ylunlque No. a revealed today that ,om0 of the Japanese had succeeded n landing. The American army Of ;he Philippines, under Gen. Doug .ps MacArthur, Is fighting hard to slirn back this Japanese effort to invade Luzon, the major island Of the Philippine archipelago,
 (den, Douglas Macarthur report- cd in Manila that American and FlllnIno troops are more than holding their own" in the big bat tle which includes the first colnDat between United States nnd Jap- Anese tank forces, Heavy United states guns broke up Japanese landing attempt of destroyers Hnd Transports at one polnt)
 The communique, based on reports as of 0.30 e. m., EST, was in cold, official language. But there was no diSguiSiag of the scope of the sNOperntion and it's importance. The dof0nding forces at that point proh- ably were out-numhered.
 "The Japanese force" the com Yaunlque said, "ls estimated at S0,- 0O0 to 100000, from six to eight divisions"
 ! 1t said c fleet of about 30 enemy trocpShipS appeared off the west ward "a large number of l50-man pangos entered LlngayOn Gulf, ate @mpting landings In the vicinity of Argoo."
 ''Some of them succeeded In get- NnC ashore" 1t added,
 Fierce Resistance .The attempted invasion is being met with fierce resistance by Amer ban and Filipino troops" and "hea- ~ fighting Is in progress on the Glngayen Gulf" 1t said.
 1t noted activity in other parts Nt tho Philippines aS well. Fight- ahg "is continuing" near Davao, In" portant city on the ISland~of Mln- Nanao where the Japanese attempt- a an invasion late last week. In other sectors, 1t said, there was fenweed patrol activity"
 The communlque said there was 0nothing to report" from areas oth- er than the Philippines.
 The communlque, No. a, report. Ing on the situatoin GS of 0;30 a an., EST, follows:
 "i. Philippine theater: heavy fighting is In progress on the Lin- gAyen Gulf, iB0 miles north Of Ma