The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-31
JAPANESE BOMB
 BASE HOSPITAL
(NEA Telenhotol
(Continued from Page D

NSOAAIAkAuCA 4ASA1A z 0SC ~ day were accompanied by fire from enemy shore batteries on the Cavite shore of the bay, 1t said.
 "The guns of our forts returned the fire" 1t said. The battery on Fort Hughes-one of the three smaller island posts which, with CorTegidor, dominate the entrance to the bay-"destroyed an enemy launch in Manila Bay"
 On the ground in Bataan there were sharp clashes between pa- trols" and aerial bonbardment of our front lines and rear areas.
 The extensive patrol activity on Bataan was viewed as a Japanese effort to feel out Lieut.. Gen. Jona- than M. Wainwright's strength and to find a soft spot in his lines which might be vulnerable to a big push.
 Likewise, the continued air bomb ing was believed to be an effort to weaken WainWright's American and Filipino defenders in anticipa- ton of the long-awaited all-out Japanese assault. All reports thus far have indicated that the week. long assaults by enemy bombers on the Bataan lines and on the island forts hace inflicted little, If any, serious damage to military installa- tions.
 With Gen. Wainright's Forces in the Philippines, March 3l.-Straight shooting American and Filipino ar- tillerymen are largely responsible for making Bataan too hot for the Jap- anese.
 They don't have aerial observation. The Japanese do. But their artil- lery completely outclasses the en- emy. Japanese bombers have failed in numerous attempts to knockout their batteries, while many Japanese batteries have been blasted by the American artillery.
 Mess Sergt. Jones Calugas, who rounded up his Kitchen help to man gun after the crew had suffered heavy casualties, eXemplifies the Filipino enlisted man.
 Typical of the officers who have through courageous leadership moulded green artillerymen into ex- perts, is Lieut.. Col. Lester J. Tacy of Virginia Beach, Va.
 During the Japanese frontal at- tack, when the going was toughest for the defenders, Tacy encourl- tered observation difficulties for his batteries so he took over an lm- portant observation post in an area where the Japanese had infiltrated With another officer, a lieutenant, and three enlisted Filipinos, Tacy crawled Up to the position, re- storing the field telephone line en route.
 Don't call me under any cir cumStances," he warned in his first message to headquarters. "The Japs are all around and will hear the phone ring. I'll keep you posted on firing"
 Lieut.. Is Shot
 Later that day, Tacy ordered the lieutenant to check up on the firing 200 yards to the left of the post. The lieutenant went farther than he had been ordered and the Japanese shot him.
 Braving rifle and machine gun fire, Tacy went to the rescue but he was wounded, and he discovered that the lieutenant was dead. The Japanese renewed their fire, hitting Tacy again and forcing him to crawl to safety and abandon his efforts at retrieving the body.
 Tacy was hit in the shoulder by a small caliber rifle charge, his stomach was creased and an ear lobe was nicked. There were four bullet marks on his helmet, tnclud- ing two from machine gun, which pierced the top of the helmet, which didn't, however, scratch his scalp.
 Despite his wounds, Tacy stayed at his post all that night, directing and adjusting almost continuous artillery fire. The next day, with other observation posts beginning to function satisfactorily, Tacy told headquarters he was returning.
 Shoots Jap officer
 While he and the Filipinos were walking along the trail, the soldier III the ledus ChILylnS dn duSOAA0'AS rifle, stopped abruptly. Tacy soon saw why. Twenty-Five yards away, more than 20 Japanese were eating lunch in mango grove.
 The Japanese officer in charge motioned to the Filipino to come forward, grinning and displaying the greatest friendliness. Tacy emptied his revolver into the oticer and saw him fall before he re- treated.
 He and the Filiplnos hid in Q clump of bushes and covered them- selves with leaves while the Japan csc searched the area for six hours.
 They escaped in the darkness, but didn't get back to camp until three days later because they had to double back deep into the hills to elude the Japanese.
 route although informed quarters called the reports the first clear