Evening star., 1942-04-21
Defenders Yield
TwoPositions
In Panay Battle
New Landing Made by
Jops;; Bombordment
Of Forts Lessons

forced the American-Filipino de-
tenders to withdraw from two
positions in the Province of An
tique on the west coast of the
Island of Panay, the War De-
partment reported in a commu-
nique this morning.
The withdrawal was effected sue
! cessfully. and the fighting cost "a
/ heavy toll Of enemy casualties, -
the communique said American
forces on Panay are greatly out
numbered.
/ Announcement of the withdrawal
/ followed receipt of news dispatches
/ from Gen. Douglas Macarthur s
/ headquarters in Australia in which
Gen. MacArthur's first communicate
in the Southwest Pacific told of a
/ new japanese landing on Panay at
/ San Jose, west coast town 40 miles
west of Iloilo.
The heavy bombardment of the
island forts in Manila Bay by
/ 240-mm. guns on both shores of the
/ bay lessened late yesterday, the War
Department communique said. and
the damage was not great" Dive
bomber attacks continued, however,
it was reported.
Intermittent Smelling.
Concerning this phase Of the
Philippine action, Gen. Macarthur S
communique said, The enemy con-
tinued intermittent shelling and
bombing of Corregidor with negli-
gible effect; enemy artillery action
is abating. Harbor defenses regis
tered hits on enemy troop move
ments."
The Manila Bay dive bomber at
tack was directed chiefly at Forts
Hughes and Drum. The War De-
partment reported that most of the
bombs dropped harmlessly in the
water, and no damages or casual
ties were reported at either fort.
Corregidor apparently was bearing
up well under the pounding of big
japanese guns. Yesterday, the War
Department had reported the Jap
anese were blasting the island with
9-inch artillery, and that some
damage had been done by these
huge guns.
A forenoon report said American
guns returned the fire, "silencing at
least three enemy batteries and
breaking up three truck and troop
concentrations In Bataan."
Army officers said the artillery
pounding undoubtedly was the most
severe thus far aimed at the fortress,
which controls the entrance to
Manila Bay.
Town Taken, Japs Claim.
Domei, Japanese news agency re-
ported from Toxic that japanese
| forces on Panay had occupied the
town of Calinog, 40 miles north of
Iloilo.
The japanese, with air support,
were said to have merged forces
from north and South Sunday be-
low the midisland town of Dumarao
and to be furiously attacking 5000
enemy troops at the foot of Mount
Tigatay. in Western Panay. The
town OF Tapaz was reported afre.
A large armed United States mer-
chant vessel attempting to escape
from Manila" was sunk by Japanese
Army planes and another was dam
aged severely, the japanese said.
Planes inflicted heavy losses on
the retreating enemy in Panay,"
the report continued, saying United
States and Filipino troops had been
encircled and compressed into a
small mountainous region. Japa-
nese vanguards which applied q
pincer movement from the north
and south were said to have met
Saturday.
Port MOresby Raided.
Reports from Port Moresby,
United Nations base on New Guinea,
said nine heavy Japanese planes
| escorted by six fighters made a raid
there today, but that their forma-
tionS were broken up by anti-air-
craft fire and r. A. A. F. fighters.
Allied airmen were said to have
made far-reaching attacks from
Australian bases against Koepang,
Dutch Timor: Rabaul, New Britain,
and Salamaua, New Guinea, over
| the week end.
Imperial Toxic headquarters an
nounced that SO enemy planes had
been destroyed, against loss of six
planes by the naval air arm at Port
Moresby and Port Darwin since
April !.
Two Japanese planes were said to
have been shot down and at least
| two damaged in the weekend raids
See MACARTHUR. Page AID