The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-12

Manila the American commander still was receiving reports and in- formation as to Japanese activity in the Philippines capital.
 MacArthur reported that Japan csc occupation troops are attempt ing to suppress the use of radio re- ceiving sets by civilians" to cut them of from hearing broadcasts The action was said to have been taken despite the fact that it also keeps them from hearing Japanese propaganda broadcasts.
 Other Developments
 American and Filipino lines in Bataan province stood firm against 8 terrific Japanese assault, repuls- ing with "heavy enemy losses" the first wave of grand attack de- signed to overwhelm them.
 A Japanese warship attacked the U. s. Naval station at Tutiula in the Samoan islands-a key position on the island chain linking Hawaii and Australia-but inflicted only slight damage.
 The Japanese, after five weeks of war were engaged in three major offersives. These were the reduction of MacArthur's hard fighting forces in the Philippines; the opening phase of an attack on the Dutch East Indies, and the offensive down the Malayan peninsula toward Singapore.
 American planes and American fighting men were in the thick of 1t and the Dutch reported from Batavia that American warships shortly may be expected to go into action in defense of the East Indies.
 The big news was the second major assault by heavy American bombing planes upon the forces Japan has assembled at the base she has established at Davao, 500 miles south of Manila, on the southern Philippines islands of Mindanao.
 The American bombers, despite low visibility, attacked large Japa- nese fleet concentration in Malalag Bay in Davao Gulf.
 A Japanese battleship was set afire. This appeared to be the fourth enemy battleship blasted by Ameri- can airmen.
 May Be Same Ship
 There was a possibility, however, that the dreadnaught was the same on which American heavy bombers scored three direct hits six days ago. Both attacks occurred in the Davao area and the battleship hit Tuesday may have linped into Malalag Bay to be hit again. If four oattleships have been hit, American lliers have damaged about one third of Japan's known capital ship strength.
 Because of poor visibility the bonbers were unable to report the full results of their attack. The Japanese fleet included the battle ship, six cruisers, two destroyers, eight transports and 10 smaller ves- sels. An anti-aircraft battery ashore was hit and all the American planes returned to base undamaged.
 The fleet against which the Jan. 6 attack was directed comprised a battleship, five cruisers, six des- troyerS, F submarines and 12 trans ports.
 American bomberS also attacked a Japanese cruiser and two large transports nthe Celebes Sea.
 The increasing intervention of the American air arm was empha- sized by reports from Rangoon that 26 Japanese planes were destroyed in attacks by American and British planes on Japanese air bases in Malaya-a move designed to relieve the growing Japanese pressure on Singapore. And from Singapore, it. self, came hits of allied air rein forcements which might mean that American planes will come to the aid of that increasingly endangered British bastion.
 Critical Place
 MacArthur's battle was reaching the critical phase.
 The Japanese threw in a "tre- mendous force" against his right flank, apparently driving against Hermosa, just inside the northeast quarter of Bataan, about 30 miles northeast of Mariveles, his commit nications port with Corregidor.
 American and Philippine sol diers," said the war department communique, defending previously prepared positions repulsed the at- tack with heavy enemy losses. Our casualties were relatively small.
 Hostile aircraft resumed bom- bardment of Qualifications Of Manila Bay and defense positions in that vicinity after several daps of inac- tivity. The bombing attack was relatively light and did no serious damage"
 War Department Reports
 Washington, Jan. 12-(UP)-The war department in a communique today said that heavy artillery duel is in progress along the en- tire Philippine Iront, with the Jap anese moving up heavy reinforce ments and increasing their air al- tacks.
 The department said that the ground activity is increasing as fresh Japanese troops move into 1ront line positions against the line of American and Philippines defenders northwest of Manila.
 At the same time, the Japanese were stepping up the tempo ol their bombings.
 The bombings were directed against the front line positions Of Gen. Douglas Macarthur, comman- der of the United States Far East ern forces, as well as Qualifications in Manila Bay and elsewhere.
 Macarthur reported that the Jap- anese occupying forces in Manila are attempting to suppress use of radio receiving sets by civilians in an apparent effort to block recep- N
 Household Dept.