Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-03
BY DEAN SCHEDLER,

Japanese planes IN Cne laSC week,
making a total of Sc bagged by the
island-fortress' guns since the start
of the war.
The figures are taken from the
scoreboard which lists only con-
f1rmed losses inflicted on the enemy
CA War Department COM
munique yesterday listed four
more bombers shot down over
Manila Bay Notifications, but
placed the definite number of
Japanese losses at 32O
The Goth Coast Artillery anti
aircraft units are over-carerul in
crediting the batteries with hits and
with recording planes actually
downed. Planes are marked as
down only after this has been con-
f1rmed by observation. Many times
bursts of anti-aircratt fire amid
tight formations of enemy planes
are seen to shake up the planes
causing some to veer from their
course, trailing smoke as far as they
can be seen. But unless such
plane is seen actually to come down
it is marked up as a probable" loss
to the enemy.
Washingtonian Is Commander.
The motto of the hard-hitting
6Oth, commanded by the veteran Col
Theodore M. Chase, a native OF
Washington, D. c., is "Coelis I'M
peramus," which translated literally
means: I'VE rule the heavens"
During the last week, and since
the start of the war, they have DEM
onstrated they can dish 1t out to the
enemy, as we'll as take it.
According to Maj. T. K. McNair
of Red Bank, N. j., Corregidor has
undergone more than 100 actual air
raids since December 20, with the
longest raid, of more than six hours
duration, last week.
japanese planes, operating from a
nearby Luzon Island base, place
Corregidor in a state of almost con-
tinuous alarm, although each day
the flyers have evidenced growing
respect for the anti-aircraft guns.
Flights as result have diminished
in size from 27-plane formations to
sorties by one and two planes at a
time.
AS the size Of the flights dinin-
ished, the planes also climbed high
er, forcing the anti-aircraft units to
their utmost to pick the bomb-laden
tiny specks out of the sky.
Practiced Long and Hard.
Col. Chase's men practiced long
and hard with their guns before the
war started, realizing the value Of
anti-aircraft units as proved by the
war in Europe. Since the bombing
of Manila Bay harbor defenses
started, all soldiers have developed
a great respect for their work. The
hard pounding given Corregidor the
last week has provided the fullest
test men and material can face in
fighting an enemy on uneven terms
and matching air power with ground
guns.
SearchIghts aid the gunners at
night in keeping Japanese bombs
pushed wide of the target areas.
One battery. under the command
of Capt. C. r. ,Ames. Rockaway
Beach, N. Y, has been dishing II
out to the enemy while ducking not
only bombs but also artillery shells
from the Cavite shore across the
bay.
Last evening I was talking to
Capt. Ames and found his men all
bronzed and in high spirits. A few
minutes before they had assisted II,
some Of the best shooting yet.
Two bombers were flying over
Corregidor at dusk. The bombers
crossed flying slightly lower than
previously. Capt. Ames' men and
the men of the other batteries
trained their guns to make each
shot count.
Requires Only Few Moments.
The gun crew under Sergt. E. ].
Swanson of Lewistown, Mont, was
given the order to fire. Four rapid
shots from each battery roared into
the sky. The first bomber was hit
near one of its mstors. The wing
broke off, sending the plane plunging
into the bay and a cloud of smoke.
The action required only a few mo-
ments of intense fire. All the gun
crews had been undergoing the same
thing all week, in addition to taking
Smelling themselves.
The score for this particular raid
was 'two up, two down, all clear"
1t was tonic not only to the men
in the 60th's batteries, but permeated
the entire body Of troops on Cor
regidor.
The soldiers and marines let out a
mighty football cheer IS the two
planes were shot down. Every one
is retelling the story, with many eye
witnesses declaring it was "the great
est thrill yet. 1t makes one able to
take those bombs"
Although the two planes were not
the only ones shot down for the
week, the boys seemed to let out
their pent-up anger in those few
rounds.
Chinese Praises Men.
A Chinese, K. C. Ting, extended
high praise. In a letter to Adj.
John O'Toole Of the Goth, the elderly
Chinese, who had seen his country
torn by long years of warfare, wrote
he saw the "topside sampans" fall
out of the sky, although 1t seemed
they never would. The adjutant
added his bit to Ting's letter, saying