The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-02-27

several occasions laid down heavy
barrages on American-held island
forts, including Fort Mills on Cor
regidor Island.
MacArthur's two-day old Often
sive still was a puzzle to military
tacticians here, although it was
generally agreed that the advance
probably was for the purpose of
ascertaining enemy plans and
breaking up advanced Japanese
concentrations.
1t was started after several days
Of silence on the part of Japan's
numerically-f superior army IN
LuZon, at a time when an about
Japanese assault was expected mo-
mentarily.
Fight Everywhere
Military officials said fighting was
underway in numerous scattered
parts of the archipelago-on Bataan
and behind the invaders lines
where the Japanese are struggling to
hold their costly gains and organize
70 ran attempted Knockout" assault.
After nearly three months Of bitter
fighting, the Japanese are trying to
bolster their lines across Bataan
peninsula. They have been thrown
back on the defensive and driven
back several kiIometers" near Man
liza bay by MacArthur's surprise
thrustS.
Not since Feb. IL when the fall Of
Masbate island in the heart of the
islands was reported by the war de
partment have the Japanese been
able to extend their conquest or I'M
leash their threatened about as
sault against Macarthur, despite
vast superiority in manpoWer.
The increasing and savage resist
ance of the Filipinos, in guerrilla
warfare, for which they have been
famous for generations, was said by
War department officials to be aid
ing Macarthur and his men, in scat
tering the plans Of Gen. Masarahu
Homma, the Japanese commander
ri-chief in the Philippines.
The combination of the Filipinos'
instruction against the invaders
and MacArthur's tactical brilliance
was said to have defeated obvious
enemy plans to achieve a swift
knockout" of resistance in the Phil
ippines ard release large forces for
the struggle of the Dutch East In
dies, 1000 miles to the southwest.
Informed military quarters
stressed that MacArthur's surprise
thrusts launched all along the 13-
mile Bataan battlefront, as reported
in communique yesterday, must
not be regarded as a counter often
sive Of major proportions. 1t was
not Indicated thta no attempt would
be made--becauSe of MacArthur,S
numerically inferior forces which
are without hopes of reinforcement
noW-to break the Japanese main
positions
Beat Japs To Punch
The assaults undoubtedly were de-
signed to beat the Japanese to the
punch, at time when Homma prob
ably least expected Macarthur to
cut loose with an assault, straighten
out the curve in American-Filipino
positions stretching across Bataan
peninsula behind srarls of barbed
wire, and disrupt what appeared to
be enemy preparations for an about
attack
Macarthur reported to the war de-
partment a week ago yesterday that
japanese troop movements behind
the enemy lines indicate regroup-
ing of forces, preliminary to a re-
sumption of the offensive"
Then followed a calm over the en-
tire Bataan front, broken only by
sporadic japanese aerial attacks and
reconnaissance.
Macarthur, according TO military
observers, evidently decided to seize
the initiative and attack to obtain
an explanation of the inactivity ard
to prevent the enemy from using it
to prepare without hindrance for
knockout" blow.
1t was the biggest blow struck by
Macarthur in month, since he
scored a smashing success" in
counter attack after the Japanese
smashing at his left flank near the
Chira Sea on jan "a with masses of
troops supported by guns of warships
and heavy bombers
n IL