Evening star., 1942-01-24
Jap Warships Blast Macarthur;
Fresh Forces Push Lines Back;
Australia Speeds Home Defenses
Losses Are Heavy
On Both Sides in
Baton Fighting
ey the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Heavy losses" on both sides
were reported from the Philip
pines today in fierce fighting
that failed to prevent the land
ing of fresh Japanese troops on
the Batan Peninsula.
The weary American-Filipino de-
tenders. already heavily out-num
bered, gave way at several positions
on the peninsula west coast and on
Subic Bay, when japanese poured
ashore under the fire of their Navy S
warships.
A War Department communlque
reporting this today said that the
foe was expelled from some points
by fierce counterattacks. but other
points remained in the enemys pos
session.
Meanwhile the japanese contln-
ued to land reinforcements in Suhc
Bay and on the west coast OF the
rugged peninsula, increasing their
numerical superiority. American
and Philippine troops were described
as fatigued from continual fighting
but undiminished in enthusiasm,
courage and devotion.
Effort to Turn Left Flank.
A spokesman said the Japanese
appeared to be trying to turn Gen.
MacArthur's left flank anchored on
the South China Sea, while under
taking to smother" the defenders
with mass attacks elsewhere.
The mounting resistance of Fill
pino patriots against the invaders
Of their commonwealth was DEM
onstrated today by issuance of
harsh Japanese Army order impos-
ing the death penalty for trivial
offenses.
The Capital accepted the new
Japanese step as clear indication
that the Mikado's forces in the
Philippines were feeling a growing
sense of insecurity and we're re-
doubling precautions against sur
prise blows from the 100000
Filipinos.
A Navys spokesman's disclosure
of the liquidation of an unspecified
number of enemy submarines off
the Atlantic Coast offered cheering
relief to the latest reports from the
Western Pacific, which told of JAP
anese landings on the outer ring
of islands off Australia's northern
coastline.
Luzon Raid Recalled.
Whether the resistance of the
Filipinos to the invaders had re-
suited in a further spread of guer-
rilla warfare was unknown here.
Only Wednesday, however, United
States Army communique recounted
how lone of Gen. MacArthur's
guerrilla bands scored a brilliant
success" in raid on Jap airdrome
In Northern Luzon.
The fact that Gen. Macarthur
was able to send word of the stiff
fened penalties for civil resistance
demonstrated that a well-organized
Filipino intelligence service must be
functioning for him behind - and
through-the Japanese lines.
Nippon's 1t. Gen. Masaharu HON.
ma decreed death not only for
actual rebellion, sabotage and
espionage. but for a long list of
minor infractions, such as tearing
down military notice. concealing
fuel or clothing to avoid Jap con-
f1scation. and declining to accept
the worthless "shinplaster" cur
rency of the invaders.
The account of the Navy's sue
eesses against hostile submarines
was couched in broad-and ironic
terms by a departmental spokes-
man.
Without disclosing the number Of
victories over such craft. he OBJ
served that some of the recent
visitors to our territorial waters
will never enjoy the return portion
of their voyage
Text of the statement follows:
There are many rumors and I'M
official reports about the capture
or destruction of enemy submarines.
Some of the recent visitors to our
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