Evening star., 1942-04-15
Nichols Field
AT Manila One
Targets
Troop Concentrations
Docks Hit; One U. S.
Croft Lost, Crew Safe
BY C. YATES MCDANIEL,

Associated Press War Correspondent.
UNITED STATES ARMY
HEADQUARTERS IN AUSTRIA
Liza, April l5.-American Army
bombers smashed Japanese ship
ping. planes, bases. docks and
troop concentrations at four
points in the Philippines Mon
day and Tuesday In a 4,000-mile
trip raid from Australia-the
longest-range destructive air at
tack in the entire course OF the
Pacific war.
These spectacular blows by l3
United States planes were an
nounced tonight In communique
giving remarkable evidence that
Gen. Douglas Macarthur. supreme
commander in the Southwest
Pacific, was not speaking idly when
on his arrival In Australia from the
Philippines In mid-March he de-
clared: IT came through and I will
return"
The American offensive was ac-
compliShed with loss of only one
plane, whose crew was saved
The raiders struck with destruc-
tive fury at Nichols Field. near
Manila; at Davao, Cebu and Ba-
tangas.
Four Ships Sunk.
Three japanese transports and q
supply ship were listed as sunk, one
transport as probably sunk and at
least three others hit directly. plus
toll of Japanese planes destroyed
on the ground and In the air.
Particularly effective blows were
announced against Davao. on the
southern island of Mindanao, where
Japanese troops were bombed, docks
and warehouses hit, two troop trans
ports hit, two planes destroyed and
several damaged.
At Cebu. central Philippine island
now under Japanese attack tnrcesuf
The invader transports were sunk and
two damaged and three planes were
destroyed.
The bombers had hardly come to q
standstill on the runway on return
ing. to their base somewhere in
Australia when Brig. Gen. Rush Lin
coin, representing the United Ma
tions air commander, 1t. Gen.
George r. Brett, rushed up and
handed Gen. Royce the Distin-
guished Flying Cross, as directed BY
President Roosevelt.
The D. F. G. also was awarded 10
1t. Col. John Hubert Davies of Pied
mont, Calf, and Capt Frank p.
Bostrom.
Heavy Damage Done.
The raiders destroyed three jap
anese transports at Cebu and hit
two others; struck two transports,
probably sinking one and destroy
ing planes at Davao; shot down
three Japanese planes and damaged
several others on the ground: de-
stroyed hangers and damaged run
ways at Nichols Field near Manila
and did considerable damage TO
docks, the announcement said.
At Batangas a japanese cargo ship
presumably carrying military sup
plies was sunk.
CThe distance from northern
most Australia to Manila is
roughly 1000 miles; to Davao,
1,400. Since the B-25 bombers
have a round-trip range, loaded,
of about 1,700 miles, the implica-
ton was that they may have re-
fueled somewhere in American
held territory in the Philippines.
(The three B-17s-the famous
flying fortresses-could make the
round-trip readily without refuel-
ing)
Volunteered for Mission.
Gen. Brett issued a statement
highly commencing Gen. Boyce,
saying he volunteered for this most
important mission" and that;
His accomplishment will un-
doubtedly be told in detail at a
later date, but now it is desired
to point out that he has typified
1See PHILIPPINES, Page 2-x.)