The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-08

It was not known immediately whether the numerically superior Japanese, supported by tanks and dive bombers, had forced the Vain wright line south of Bataana strategic eaSt-west highway.
 The previous American line at some points was only about four miles north of the highway.
 Part of Wainwright's strategy, 1t appeared, was to rearrange his lines SO that dents driven Into the or- iginal U. S.-Filipino positions would be strengthened out thus preventing the Japanese from cutting oil coi1- tingents of our troops.
 The presumed orderliness of the American withdrawal, made at night, appeared supported by Wain- Wright's failure to mention any fighting.
 In reports to the War Depart- ment yesterday, Wainwright told of fierce fighting with heavy casual ties suffered by the U. S.-Ftlipino forces as well as the Japanese.
 With the defenders giving ground and their lives in the epic battle, there seemed little doubt that the situation on BataaIi was becoming extremely grave.
 l6 Days of Fighting
 For I6 days the big Japanese of- fensive to drive the defenders oil the island of LuZon has been on For l6 days Gen. Tomoyuka Yamas- hita has thrown fresh reserves ale most daily ct the weary men of Lieut., Gen. Jonathan M. Waiil- wright. For i6 days the defenders have been subjected to assaults by land, sea and air; have been bonlb- cd, shelled and rushed by tanks.
 The military experts here made no attempt to hide their realization that the long-awaited Japanese of- fensIve, which has been in high gear almost a week, was telling on Wainwright's men.
 War Department comnuniques revealed the gravity Of the situa- ton.
 For three days they have reported that Wainwright's lines were forced back-a contrast to the weeks be- fore when, despite Japanese thrusts the communiques always ended by saying that "our main line Is tl- tact"
 yesterday the War Department reported twice that there had been ''heavy casualties" on both sides. Il was the first time a communique had used the word "heavy" to de- scribe American Filipino casualties
 Losses Not Given
 There was no estimate of the number of American or Filipino sol- diers lost in conteSting the rugged battle-ground of Bataan peninsula ,,FGn- t,v-.nch. Military experts aware of the numerical superiority of the enemy, wondered how long Wainwight's men would hold out against fresh assault troops.
 The latest communique referred to Superior enemy forces, supported by tanks and artillery" and to "fresh reserves" making "some additional progress" Then 1t said:
 Japanese dive bombers are as- sisting in the attack, dropping bombs and machine-gunning oul front line soldiers"
 Against the dive bombers, Vain wright's men have virtually no de- fense. One of the lessons learned in this war is that it takes air. craft to fight aircraft. And Vain wright has only few P-40 planes
 The communique also revealed that some of the casualties suffered by Wainwright's men were a res snlt of Japanese bombing of field hospital behind the lines. Three flights of heavy bombers attacked the hospital-the same one bombed a few days ago, for which the Jap anese apologized.
 'Today's attack. following SC closely the first attack. tends to prove that both raids were inten- tional," the communique said.
 Yamashita apparently has thrown his full resources--more than 20O,- 900 troops and their equipment into the battle. With almost un- limited supplies of manpower. ann intuition. tanks and planes. he is able to pound the defenders around the clock.
 CommuniQues have given no iE- dicatloY1 whether Wainwright's men are running ahort Of ammunition or foodstuffs. But the continued fight ing necessarily will use Up hugs quantities of their stores
 : Chinan0. Anfil ~(Upl--Vfcc Ad.