Evening star., 1942-01-22
Invaders Attack
All of Defense
Line in Luzon

Heavily reinforced japanese
assault troops are renewing at
tacks all along Gen. Douglas
MacArthur's line on the Batan
Peninsula in an all-out effort to
pierce the left and center wings,
= morning War Department COM
munique reported.
Enemy forces comprising the l4th
Japanese Army under 1t. Gen.
Masaharu Homma were estimated
by Army officials here as approx
mately 100000 men. A major por-
ton of this army is engaged in the
assaults on the American-F1nplno
lines. Other units we're said to be
in support.
The War Department reported
at $50 am. that II Japanese
bombers Sunday attacked the city
of Cebu on one of the islands con-
siderably south Of Luzon. No de-
tails of this engagement were given.
The main attack on the Batan
front was receiving only light air
support, the enemy evidently con-
centrating on artillery fire and In
fantry thrusts.
More Troops Landed.
Gen. Homma's forces were being
augmented by reinforcements now
being landed in Lingayen Gulf and
Subic Bay, strategic areas available
to the japanese.
Details of this major attack were
lacking. Gen. MacArthur's forces
yesterday we're reported to have re-
captured positions along the Batan
lines which had been lost in earlier
fighting.
War Department officials seemed
confident that the beleaguered
American and Filipino lines would
continue to hold despite the heavy
reinforcements the japanese are
throwing into the action.
For several days it has been ap-
parent that the japanese were lead
ing up to a desperate attempt to
break Gen. MacArthur's main resist
ance in this area, the capture OF
which would give them virtually
complete control over the entire
island of Luzon.
There was no indication in today's
communique of reports received here
that the stoutly y-resisting American
lines were unable to cope with the
situation as it Is now developing.
Lack Of reinforcements and air
plane support, however, are PLAYING
to the disadvantage Of the defenders.
Oficials here said the 14th Japa-
nese Army probably comprises from
eight to ten full divisions. A Japa-
nese division is estimated at about
$4,000 men, being about the same
size as an American infantry d.
vision.
Homma Well Known Here.
Gen. Homma is we'll known in this
country, officials said, and has
played prominent part in japanese
military affairs in recent years. He
was said to be 81 years old, and an
exceptionally good English linguist,
and served both as staff officer and
as a divisional commander in China.
At one time he was In command OF
Japanese forces at Tientsin.
Officials here have a dossier OF
his official record to date. He served
as japanese military attache IN
London in 1880 and as chief Of the
Public Relations Bureau Of the War
ONCE in Toxic from 1881 to 1882.
During that period he was Army
representative at the 1881 Geneva
Disarmament Conference.
Gen Homma appeared in the
news again in 1887 when he ac-
companied Prince Chichibu. brother
of the Emperor, on a mission to
London in 1887. In 1898, Gen. HON.
ma served as director of the second
bureau of the general staff in Toxic,
which corresponds to the military
intelligence of the American general
staff.
officials here acquainted with his
record said he was in supreme COM
mand of the enemy forces in the
Luzon area and was a highly eff
cient officer.