Evening star., 1942-01-03
Philippines
Continued From First Page J

defense forces were putting up "des-
perate" resistance in the Batan
Mountains, but asserted they were
doomed to annihilation within q
short time.
To Japanese radio listeners, a
TOXIC broadcast pictured Japanese
troops as having captured Manila by
storm, Drawing furious fire"-giving
melodramatic portrayal OF the
city's fall, in contrast to q War De-
partment communique reporting that
"all American and Philippine troops
were withdrawn from the city sew
eral days ago."
According to the War Department
version, the Japanese simply marched
into the open, undefended city with
out resistance, Gen. Macarthur hav-
ing withdrawn his forces.
Mindanao Reported Captured.
The Japan Times and Advertiser
reported, meanwhile, that japanese
forces had completed occupation Of
Mindanao, second largest OF the
Philippine Islands, where landings
had been made at Davao.
This report said nothing Of Zam-
boanga, a United States naval sta
ton at the tip of a peninsular jutting
southwest from Mindanao.
The Times and Advertiser pre-
dicted that guerrilla operations
against the Japanese might con-
tinue for some time on Luzon. The
newspaper said Japans success on
Luzon, however, would relieve large
forces for increased pressure toward
Singapore.
The hard-pressed American de-
fense forces, reported yesterday to
have taken up strong positions on
a shortened line north of Manila
after the fall of the capital. were
pictured today as fighting a delay
ing action in this second phase OF
the battle of Luzon to permit mob
ilization of full Allied power in the
Pacific.
Gen. MacArthur's troops presum-
ably were fighting somewhere along
an important highway leading west
ward to the rugged and otherwise
trackless wilderness of Batan Penin-
sula, which forms one arm OF Ma
Mia Bay.
Despite the fall Of undefended
Manila and the dismantled Cavite
naval base, Washington military
quarters expressed belief that the
American and Filipino troops were
in position to keep up a prolonged
battle while other anti-Axis forces
were mustered at Singapore and in
the Netherlands Indies.
Falling Back On Bay Forts.
Military quarters pictured Gen
| MacArthur's withdrawal from Ma
i nila and consolidation of his limited
forces north OF the capital as a key
/ development in the delaying action
They termed it the best maneuver
open to him from the viewpoint OF
continuing the battle.
Behind the strong positions" ii
was said to have taken up yesterday
the American Filipino Army is now
believed able to fall back. If need
be. slowly and In good order to the
protection of the guns OF the Manila
Bay Notifications.
Also within the defense lines
which extend in an arc possibly zoe
miles long from Manila Bay to the
South China Sea coast. are the
Olongapo Naval base and possibly
Fort Stotsenburg and Clark Field.
Batan Terrain Rugged.
In territory left to them the de-
tenders are favored by soma Of the
most rugged terrain IN the Philip
pines, varied by the swamps OF the
Pampanga River mouth.
On the slopes of Mount Mariveles
which dominates the Batan penln-
sula, American troops repeatedly
have carried out peace-time man.
euvers anticipating the wartime de-
velopment now shaping up-retire-
ment toward the Corregidor strong
holds.
There was speculation that the
provisional Philippine capital might
have been transferred to Malolos, Is
miles north of Manila, the seat OF
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldos insurgent
government tn 1899. Military head
quarters of Gen. MacArthur's troops
was believed to be at Fort Mills, on
Corregidor Island.