Evening star., 1942-02-07
Communiques
Macarthur PIunes
Down jap Bomber

oSW' SSR oS
The tert of War Department com.
ntunique No. 95, outlining the mill
tary situation as OF 9:30 am. today
/. Philippine theater:
Concealed enemy batteries near
the southeastern shore Of Manila
Bay bombarded our harbor de-
fenses with heavy artillery for
three hours. Most Of the fire was
concentrated on Fort Drum, but
some was directed against Fort
Mills and Fort Hughes. No ma
terial damage was done. Our guns
returned the fire with undeter-
mined results. It has been deter
mined that 1t. Gen. Susumu
Morioka is in command Of jap
anese forces in Manila and on
the Cavite shore Of Manila Bay
There was little infantry action
on the Bataan Peninsula during
the past a. hours, but enemy ar
tillery fire was heavy.
Hostile dive bombers were ac-
tive over our lines. Two Of our
fighter planes engaged four dive
bombers, shooting down one Of
them. Neither of our planes was
damaged.
2. Netherlands Indies:
Eight American P-40 pursuit
planes we're attacked by q greatly
superior force of Japanese fight
ers and bombers near Bali. At
Least three enemy planes were
shot down. One Of our planes
was destroyed and another IS
missing.
3. There is nothing TO report
from other areas.
The teIt OF War Department COM
1unique No. "a. based on reports re.
retped up to S pm. yesterday.
l. Philippine Theater--During
the past few days American and
Filipino troops have been bonn
barded by the Japanese with
radio broadcasts and pamphlets
urging them to surrender. These
appeals have occasioned consider
able amusement for the troops.
A radio broadcast addressed to
Gen. Macarthur was made by
Emilio Aguinaldo from Manila.
Aguinaldo, who led the revolu-
ton against the United States in
1899, is apparently being put for
ward by the Japanese as sort Of
Philippine Quisiing. He urged
immediate surrender. The appeal
was ignored by Gen. Macarthur.
The latest pamphlet dropped by
Japanese aviators over our lines
declares that American money Is
rapidly becoming valueless and
that the pay the soldiers are re-
ceiving from the United States
will do them no good. The PAM
phlet concludes by urging the
Filipino troops to surrender.
American and Filipino soldiers
fighting on Bataan Peninsula
have received frequent reports
from Manila about the worthless
invasion currency" the Japanese
are attempting to circulate at the
point Of the bayonet. Hence this
pamphlet appears to them par.
ticularly ludicrous.
(Here the communique gave
the text of the pamphlet.)
2. Hawsii-The steamship Gym
thia Olsen, under charter to the
United States Army as freight
transport, having been unreported
since December Z, 194l, is pre-
sumed to be lost Is q result Of
enemy action. On December 2
this vessel reported chat it was
under attack by Japanese sub
marine. It gave its position at
about 1900 miles west Of Seattle.
The vessel was en- route to Homo
lulu with a cargo of lumber. It
was due in Honolulu on Decem-
Der 10.
The vessel was 1880 net tons
under charter to the War Depart
ment. On board the vessel at
the time were IS civilian mem
bers of the crew and two soldiers.
All are presumed to have been
lost.
3. There Is nothing TO report
from other areas.