The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-11

stroyed by American P-4o pursuit fighters.
 One of the American planes is missing.
 The navy's announcement of the retirement of Admiral Hart--direc- tor of the dramatic four-day bat tie of Macassar Straits that be- gan on Jan. 27-said:
 Tn view of Admiral Thomas c. Hart's request to be relieved because of i'll health, Vice Admiral c. E. L. Helfrich, Royal Netherlands navy, has been designated as acting con- mander of the combined naval forces ABDA (American-B British Dutch-Australian) area"
 Hart Not Retiring
 A naval spokesman explained this does not mean that Hart is retiring from the U. s. naval serv- ice, although he passed the usual retirement age last year.
 The navy also said that Hart &C., tually had been exercising the united command in the ABDA area since Jan. r, although the formal navy announcement was issued only last Saturday The command was first announced Jan. 3 by President and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. They made British Gen. eral Sir Archibald P. Wavell the supreme commander of all united nations forces in the southwest Pacific and said then that Hart would command the united naval forces there, under Wavell.
 With Hart's retirement from the Far Eastern united command the senior American admiral in the Far East is Vice Admiral William A. U. $. naval forces in the southwest ern Pacific. These forces formerly constituted the U. s. Asiatic fleet and were under Hart's direct con- mand until he became the supreme commander in the southwest Pacific area.
 GlasSford will operate under Hel- frich, colorful naval warrior who also Is supreme commander of the &NCtAXC4 ldllllso IJtiscU 1llNldll IldNAa
 Small, but Fierce Fleet
 The 55-year-old Helfrich, who has spent most of his life in command of Dutch naval forces in the Far East, was named commander in chief of the Dutch East Indies navy "a small but fiercely effective fleet in January, l940, after the fall of Holland. Born in Semarang, Java, he is well acquainted with the pres ent battlefront reaching from Sing apore down to Australia.
 Admiral Helfrich, one of the best informed men in the Dutch East Indies, probably will handle major strategy from shore" navy spokes- man here said. Admiral Classical will be the seagoing man in charge of tie naval forces"
 Tie spokesman said that the Dutch admiral directed the East h. dies navy in many extensive night and day war games. The small Dutch fleet, largely composed of light units, carried on it's maneuv- CTS in the straits leading to the Indies. It was believed that Helf- rich had large share in planning the blow delevered to the Japanese convoy and fleet units in the Macas- ear Strait battle.
 13 Jap Planes Down
 In the Straits of Macassar be- tween Borneo and the Celebes, Dutch and U. s. naval and air forces sank at least 13 Japanese ships, including two Warships, and damaged IS including nine naval vessels.
 Tcday's army communique told of g fifth day of artillery duels across Manila Bay.
 Japanese concealed batteries on the Cavite shore, around the fallen U. s. naval base south of Manila, thumped shelsl intermittently upon the U. s. forts athwart the en- trance to Manila bay--Fort Mills on Corregidor island, for Drum, Fort Hughes and Fort Frank.
 The guns of the American forts, some of them of battleship size, h. sWered the challenge and our coun- ter-battery fire appears to have been effective,' the communiqe said.
 MacArthur's men, outnumbered and weary but covered with glory, fought on with unbroken spirits.
 In the ''fox holes" of Rattan pen insula they fought with their backs to the sea against Japanese divi- sions overwhelmingly superior in numbers.
 Today is Japan's national lloli- day, called Foundation day and it was believed that the Japanese forces might go all-out against Macarthur in hope of obtaining a victory" as 8 gift for their emperor.
 Jap Forces Doubled
 During the last few days, it ap- peared on the basis of official con- muniques, the Japanese have vir- tually doubled the size of their forces on the Bataan battlefront.
 Without hope of reinforcement or evacuation, American and Filipino troops who probably number less than 10000 fought 100000 to 150,- 900 Japanese to keep their lines in- tact for withdrawal to the rock girt fortress of Corregidor in Man fla Bay.
 There, in the "Alcazar of the Pa cific" with it's battleship- guns, Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his men may soon be making their last stand.
 Corregidor, most formidable for tress under the stars and stripes, lies just off the tip of Bataan pen insula and is strong enough to with stand a long siege, according to mill tary experts,
 War department communiques of the past "A hours spoke ominously of tremendous endorsements Of Japanese troops surging into the Bataan battle lines.
 It was the story of particularly savage" fighting, of blasing Japan