Evening star., 1942-01-20
Troops Continue
Mindonoo Fight,
Macarthur Says

Ok AlllcI SdIl AIllAy OOA1ACSAo .
sank a japanese cruiser and left
a large enemy tanker in flames
100 miles off the Island of Jolo,
the War Department announced
in it's Far East communique
today.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur in his
report of the military situation up
to $50 I'm. said several direct hits
were scored on the two vessels. but
made no mention of the exact loca-
ton. Jolo is an island in the Sulu
archipelago about, so miles south
west of the Island of Mindanao.
In the same communique, renewed
attacks were reported on the Amer
lean and Philippine troops on the
Batan Peninsula, where three enemy
airplanes were shot down during the
past "a hours.
Still Fight in Mindanao.
At the same time. the first indl-
cation for many days that the jap
anese we're still opposed by Amer
lean forces on the island OF Min
danao came in a report from Gen.
Macarthur that sharp fighting was
in progress between Philippine
troops and a japanese force about
IS miles north of Davao. which is
on the southern end of Mindanao.
japanese troops landed at Davao
in the first few days of the war and
reinforcements have been landed
since that time, according to reports
received here.
American bombers have made
several attacks on Japanese troop
transports and naval craft IN the
vicinity of Jolo and Mindanao.
which have been used as bases for
japanese naval forces, reports here
Indicated
The report on Mindanao was the
first indication for many days that
Japanese were still being opposed
there.
Toll Raised to 40.
Sinking of the cruiser raised to 40
the total of japanese war craft and
other vessels sunk by United States
military and naval action.
The Navy had previously reported
the sinking of 90 vessels including
light cruiser destroyed by the Ma
rines at Wake Island, and also four
destroyers, four submarines, eight
transports, five cargo vessels, three
merchantmen and one each OF the
following-gunboat, mine sweeper,
supply vessel and liner.
The Army had announced the de-
struction of the battleship Haruna.
four vessels engaged in japanese
landing operations of Davao in the
Philippines and also two destroyers,
one submarine and two transports.
Nine Planes Downed.
Five American Army bombers
downed nine japanese interceptor
planes in an aerial dogfght in the
Indies. the War Department an
nounced last night.
The bombers, the War Department
said, had attacked an enemy alrfleld
at Menado in Northeast Celebes, with
undetermined results before they
tangled with the numerically superb
or enemy fighters. Two United States
bombers did not return to their
secret base from the engagement, so
the victory price came high for an
air arm that must husband its linn
tied planes and personnel carefully
for the present.
United States Army air activity
on the Malay Peninsula was dis
closed for the first time in the same
communique, which said that de-
laved advices established that Army
bombers had blasted the important
japanese airdrome at Sungei Pa
tani. putting the hangar area In
flames and starting three large fires
among enemy aircraft caught on
the ground. All the bombers re-
turned unchanged.
In the Philippines Gen. Douglas
MacArthurs indomitables braced
themselves for the inevitable fresh
japanese attack on their Batan
Peninsula positions, and from the
Netherland Indies came renewed ap-
peals for reinforcements in air. land
and sea forces so that the United
Nations may hold the best base for
the counteroffensive against Nippon.