Evening star., 1942-01-05
700 Invaders Are
Killed in Luzon:
a Bombers FeIIed

Having escaped the trap OF
Japanese pincers strategy. Amer
ican and Philippine forces led
by Gen. Douglas Macarthur in
flicted one of the most serious
reverses suffered by the Japa-
neSe in repulSing heavy frontal
attack northwest Of Manila yes
terday, the War Department an
nounced in communique today,
The japanese lost about TOO men
in this attack in Pampanga Prov
ince. east of the Bataan Peninsula.
while American losses were reported
as relatively small.
Four more japanese bombers were
shot down in the fourth aerial attack
on the Corregidor fortress by Amer
ican anti-aircraft batteries. Fifty
two bombers participated in three
hour attack.
At least Is enemy bombers have
been brought down in this series
OF four air raids on the besieged
fortress outside Manila.
Escaped Jaws OF Pincers.
The communique, reporting on
movements as of $50 a m. today.
stated that yesterdays repulse of
the invading force was ''one of the
most serious reverses suffered by
the japanese invaders since the war
began"
japanese strategy in the invasion
OF Luzon. the communique said. con-
templated crushing the numerically
inferior defending forces between
two pincers operating from the
north and south. This trap was
closed but American and Filipino
troops escaped its Jaws in Mac
Arthurs move uniting his forces
prior to the fall of Manila.
Failure of this strategic pincer
movement, Gen. Macarthur report
ed. made it necessary for the jap
anese to risk a frontal attack in an
attempt to dislodge strongly forti-
fed defenders. That attack like
wise failed.
Apparently no new movements oc-
CURED in other sections of the Phil
ippine war theater.
Offensive Indicated.
As the japanese forces suffered
this important reverse there were
indications that the Allies might be
ready to take the offensive against
the enemy on the Asiatic mainland.
As far as could be deduced from
dispatches from the Far East. the
Japanese we're in feveriSh haste to
complete their conquest OF the
Philippines in order to release large
numbers of troops for major oper-
ations elsewhere. And as far as
the evidence went, Gen. Macarthur
was giving the enemy no co-opera-
ton.
Reports from British Burma ex-
planned why the japanese hlgh
command might be thinking in
terms of other theaters. Large Al
lied forces were concentrating there
and intensive Allied air activity was
noted, with the japanese coming
off decidedly second best, accord
ing to a Rangoon communique.
Major Potential Threat.
In Allied hands, Burma repre-
sents a major potential threat TO
Japans grandiose plans for domi-
nation of the South Pacific. A
smashing drive eastward would cut
across the top of Thailand and
French Indi-China. placing the AL
lies squarely in the rear of the
japanese forces now driving fu-
riously southwark down the narrow
Malay Peninsula toward Singapore.
1t also would put the Allies in a
position to neutralize the 1ndo-
China bases which have played such
an important role in Japan's South
Sea successes to date.
Gen. Sir Archibald P. Wavell,
architect of Britain's first victory in
Libya and the newly designated SUI
preme commander of Allied forces
in the South Pacific. has given no
hint that such big flanking opera
ton is in prospect. On the con-
trary, before assuming his new COM
mand he cautioned that the situa-
ton may become worse until the
tide turns
Gen. Waveli, however. has not
been a man who telegraphs his
punches-legend is that he was hav-
ing casual cocktail in Cairo when
the zero hour came for the Libysn
push-and there is the evident jap
anese haste to free troops in the
Philippines for operations elsewhere
as quickly as possible.
The Berlin radio. quoting Toxic
dispatches, reported that a large
fleet of japanese transports was
moving southwark, presumably for
operations against the Batan penin-
sula, the big land arm inclosing
tSee PHILIPPINES, Page A-6D