Evening star., 1942-01-23
Americans InfIict
Heavy Losses on
Foes in Luzon
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur's
greatly outnumbered forces in
the Batan sector repulSed all
japanese attacks with heavy
losses during the last "a hours.
the War Department reported
today in a communique from the
Philippines.
Reporting at $50 am, the COM
munique stated that apparently the
14th Japanese Army has adopted
"a policy of continuous assaults,
without regard to casualties, hoping
by great superiority In numbers to
crush the defending forces"
A further threat to the safety of
the stout American and Philippine
defense was seen today in the fact
that a local military force of some
10000 Japanese residents in the Da-
vac area have been organized for
combat to assist Japanese troops
occupying the Mindanao city.
Fighting Extremely Heavy.
The all-out attack on the Batan
front line, smashing at different
points simultaneously, was being re-
sisted by Gen. Macarthur with des-
perate efforts to hold his fortified
positions. During the past "a hours
particularly, the fighting was re-
ported as extremely heavy"
1t. Gen. Masaharu Homma, COM
manding the Japanese assault force,
is being heavily reinforced as the
attack presses. His 14th Army COM
prises approximately 100000 men,
and these forces are being augment
ed by troops reported yesterday
landing in the Lingayen Gulf and
Subic Bay, held by the japanese.
The War Department has care
fully refrained from announcing any
estimate Of Gen. MacArthurs de-
Tending forces, but 1t was reported
in reliable quarters that he Is out
numbered perhaps 10-to-1. No re-
ports were made on casualties in the
last 48 hours of desperate fighting
beyond the mere assertion that the
Japanese have lost heavily" Gen.
MacArthur's losses are not believed
to be high, because Of his defensive
position. ~
Base Being Prepared.
Reports that the Japanese forces
occupying Dapao are organizing
civilians into military units indicates
further preparations for using this
area as q base for operations against
Singapore and other areas in the
Southwest Pacific.
The concentration In Davao also,
it was feared. will enable the jap
anese to send reinforcements more
swiftly to the Batan sector.
While in the midst of battle, Gen.
Macarthur was in receipt of a
message from Gen. Sir Archibald
Wavell, supreme commander of the
Allied forces In the Pacific South
west, warmly congratulating him
and his command for their mag
nificent defense" Of the Philippines.
That defense, which has been con-
tinuing with increasing resistance
in recent weeks, has served the i'm
portant purpose OF holding a huge
Japanese force in Luzon which
might otherwise be released for
operations in the attack against
Japs Using Every Resource.
While today's communique gave
no details Of the continuous assaults
on the Batan lines, officials in
that the Japanese were
bringing every resource to bear in
the hope of smashing their way
through at least in one vital point.
This would naturally include use
Of dive bombers and tanks, with
which the Japanese are literally
There was no indication that the
lines are yielding at any
point. How long the defending
forces could hold out in view Of
the vast superiority of the Japa-
nese was a question no ofiicial here
7entured to give an opinion. AS
long as no reports are received in
dicating that Gen. MacArthur's lines
have been broken, the attitude is
one of general optimism.