Evening star., 1942-01-12
Enemy Renews Air
Raids; Moves
Up Fresh Men
MAP on Page A-l.)


By the Associated Press.
A heavy artillery battle along
the entire front in the Philip
pines was reported today by the
War Department, with ground
activity increasing as fresh Japa-
nese troops moved up.
Corregidor, the island fortress
guarding the entrance OF Manila
Bay, as we'll as front-line defenses
of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's troops
were subjected to new assaults from
the air, the department said, as
the fresh enemy sol A.ers increased
pressure on the defending forces.
The communique was based on
reports received here up to 9:3 am.
1t said Gen. Macarthur had in
formed the War Department that
Japanese troops occupying Manila
are attempting to cut OIL radio
broadcasts from the United States
and England to prevent civilians
from receiving news from the out
side.
Hunt for Jap Ships.
Meanwhile American and Dutch
flyers teamed up In their hunt
for more Japanese ships.
The targets they sought repre-
sented the vulnerable spot in Nip
pon's grandiose campaign OF con-
quest. The huge quantities of troops
and supplies which Toxic needs in
the South Pacific must be water
borne. and resource-poor Japan is
not in a position to replace shipping
losses indefinitely.
The United States Army and Meth
erlands bombers got in some heavy
blows yesterday, as the japanese
battled to establish a major new in
vasion front In the East Indies.
The Americans paid q return visit
to the waters of Davao, the south
ern port in the Philippines which
the Japanese have been utilizing as
naval base for their East Indies
thrust. The heavy bombers scored
smashing direct hit on an enemy
battleship and left 1t In flames. An
anti-aircraft installation ashore also
was hit.
Attack Enemy Vessels.
Committing back to secret bases
In the Indies or Australia, the
bombers spotted and swooped down
on an enemy cruiser and two large
transports in the Celebes Sea. south
Of Davao. These were attacked, but
the results were undetermined, pre-
sumably due to the poor visibility
which handicapped the assault on
Davao earlier.
Units Of the United States Asiatic
Fleet were cooperating with Dutch
naval forces in invasion counter
moves. but the Navy Department
here was silent on the nature and
results Of their activities.
The communique last night lin
tied itself to a report Of Japanese
hit-run attack on the naval station
at Tutuila, in American Samoa
some 1900 miles southwest of Ha-
vail. A small enemy warship
pumped IA shells of light caliber in
the direction Of the naval station
there. No damage and only three
slight casualties resulted.
The foray fitted into the general
pattern of the hit-and-run cam
paign which the enemy has been
waging against American outposts
in an effort to weaken the United
States Pacific Fleet by decoying war
ships away for protective patrol
duty.
Daring Risks Are Seen.
Some informed observers here be-
heve that Japan has been COM
PEELED to commit q goodly portion
Of the imperial fleet to the South
China Sea to support the heavy op-
erations in that theater, and there
fore will take daring risks in an
effort to divert United States naval
attention as much as possible.
One brake on the enemy's land
sea and air forces was the continued
stubborn resistance Of the durable
defenders of the Philippines.
Gen. Macarthur, the War Depart
ment disclosed yesterday. hurled
back a fresh attack during the day
by heavily reinforced Japanese
troops" The enemy struck with
tremendous force" ut Gen. Mac
Arthur's right flank northwest OF
Manila, but was repulsed with heavy
losses by American and Filipino
troops holding previously prepared
(see FAR EAST, Page A-60