The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-22
May or May Not Be Final
Killing Smash at Amer
lean, Filipino Battlers
NO REAL WORD HAS
COME FROM FRONT
American With Filipino
Guerillas Attacking Rear
to Ease Frontal Attacks
BY HARRISON SALISBURY
Tinted PreSS Staff COrreSnOndent'

BY HARRISON SALISBURY
United Press Staff Correspondent
Washington, Jan. 22-UP)
Gen. Douglas MacArthur's
men, the war department. re-
vealed today, are fighting
a heavy japanese assault
launched by an entire army
group possibly 100000
troops-plus heavy new re-
Inducements being rushed to
Luzon by the Japanese high
command The large japanese forces,
the war department said, are at
lacking the left and center sectors
of MacArthur's lines.
The commuhique did not state how
well the heavily outnumbered Amer
lean and Filipino forces are with
standing the hammering Of the
Tokyo forces but it seemed evident
that the crisis of MacArthur's stand
in Bataan may be at hand.
The japanese were revealed to be
landing their fresh forces on Subic
Bay, just north of Bataan and on
Lingayen Gulf 100 miles to the north
which was the scene of the original
major japanese landing effort on
the island
Tired American Troops
These forces, it appeared, are hast
ening to the front and attacking
tired American troops which have
been holding Oft constant Japanese
attacks for At days.
It was evident that the small
American and Filipino group-de-
spite MacArthur's astute generalship
could not continue to battle indef-
initely against such vast and grow
ing odds.
The exact size of the japanese at
lacking force was not revealed.
However, the communique report
ed that the entire 18th Japanese
army under General Houima boil
stored by other units and constant
ly arriving achievements, is en-
gagged in the attack.
A Japanese army Is believed to
comprise up to IL divisions of about
5000 men each. That would consti-
tute force Of $4,000 and with re-
Inducements and other troop units
it was believed that the Japanese
assault troops may well number as
high as 100000.
The size of MacArthur's force Is
not known but 1t was evident that
he is outnumbered by something
greater than 10 to 1 although 1t Is
probable that not all the Japanese
troops actually are engaged On the
narrow Bataan front
The japanese attack was only
lightly supported by aircraft, the
communique said, but an attack by
II Japanese bombers Sunday on the
city Of Cebu. principal city of a CEN
trail Philippines Island OF the same
name, was revealed. The Japanese
have not yet attempted to extend
their occupation to Cebu and other
central Philippines Islands.
Location Not Given
The communique did not reveal
the exact location of the battle lines
but it was evident that the Japanese
now control about the northern third
of Bataan Province.
Presumably the large forces being
landed on Subic Bay are striking
south from the secondary naval base
at Olangapo toward Moron and
Bagac on the western Bataan shores
while other Japanese forces seek to
crash the strong mountainous po-
sitions held by Macarthur across the
waist of the narrow Bataan peninsu-
la.
Success of these drives would put
the Japanese behind MacArthur's
strong eastern Bataan positions and
might force him into Corregidor to
(Conti-ue1 IN Pare a.