The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-02-19
Japanese Using Flame
ThrowersO nM Arthur
Continued from Page ID

ment Of his positions by the Japa-
nese guns and squadrons Of dive
bombers. many Of which are be-
lieved TO have been shifted from
the Malayan battlefront following
Singapore's surrender, Macarthur S
main line OF defense across the
waistline of Bataan was understood
to be holding ruggedly.
Today's communique carried the
first ofhcial disclosure that the jap
anese are using -throwers, a
favorite weapon Of their Axis allies
on the European fronts, but the ex-
tent Of the enemy's employment of
these fire-spreading hoses was not
disclosed.
Several flame -throwers and a
quantity Of ordnance and signal
supplies as well as three pieces of
Japanese artillery were captured by
MacArthur's men in relatively
minor local action the communique
said.
Apace with the Smelling Of the
American-Filipino lines, japanese
guns on the Cavite shore across
Manila Bay continued to pound at
the q. S. forts astraddle the en-
trance to the bay but without
accomplishing a great amount OF
damage"
The fire against Fort Frank on
Cardiac Island, only a half-mile
off the Japanese-held shore, was said
TO have been particularly heavy.
All japanese Artillery There
There were indications that the
Japanese were throwing all their
artillery into the "windup" for their
big push on Bataan Peninsula.
MacArthur's own artillery had
taken up the challenge all along the
13-mile front, informed military
quarters said, presumably causing
a heavy toll of dead and wounded
among the tightly packed enemy
troops which have at least 10-to-one
numerical superiority.
Evidently bent on blasting Amer
lean and Filipino troops from their
"fox-holes" and entrenched noun
tain positions, the Japanese are
going about in laundering, non
stop bombardment.
For three days, new guns and
squadrons Of japanese -bombers,
believed to have been shifted from
the Malayan battlefront, have blast
ed MacArthur's line.
Tons of steel have been hurled
at the line but, according to Mac
Arthur's latest adyices to the War
Department, the defenders stand
their ground with the same logged
determination that already has made
a stirring epic of their last-ditch
fight.
MacArthur's line stretches from
the vicinity of Bagac on the China
Sea across the jungle trails and
mountains to Pillar on Manila Bay.
Military officials said it was sig
nificant that War Department COM
muniques for three days, although
telling Of fresh japanese troops
landed in Subic Bay above the fight
ing front, made no mention of in
fantry attacks.
"The bombardment looks like the
wtnd-up for the big push, but it
seems that the Japanese have
learned their lesson and are wary
Of attempting another frontal as
sault upon MacArthur's lines," said
one military informant.
Two Offensives
During the last three weeks the
enemy has tried to drive two Of
Pa,~el1,ar {bro,Srb N6oc rtl,,,r,e 1inac
each one looked like the big as
sault we had been anticipating -
but MacArthur's guns and troops
threw them back with heavy losses"
Nor have the Japanese had any
better success in their efforts to
crumble MacArthurS TANKS. Mac
Arthur let the Japanese units break
through, then closed the gaps and
encircled them.
The Japanese troops entrapped in
this application OF modern mechan-
lied warfare fought savagely to ex-
tricate themselves and Japanese
planes swept over and attempted
to drop ammunition and supplies to
them.
MI OhAASl oSSdoAOllo NldIll1 pllUl /,
displaying tactical brilliance, has
used rolling with the-punch" STRAIT
egg with great success, military
men said.
Recently the japanese comman-
der-in-chief, Lieut.. Gen. Masarahu
Homma, carried out lighting shift
OF his numerically superior forces
to one side Of MacArthur's line in
an effort to force quick break
through, much in the manner of
an end-arourd play In football.
But Macarthur shifted only
enough troops to hold the japanese
spearhead and launched a stimuli
taneous counter attack against the
weakened side Of the Japanese line,
nfiicting heavy casualties mad tax