The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-09

lives for the defense of land that | they were yielding inch by inch,
 Finally Yamashlta succeeded at the task which drove his predeees- sor, Gen. Masaharu Homma, to suicide. Homma reportedly took hls own life in the Manila hotel suite where MaeArthur had lived prior to the withdrawal from Manila.
 Experts Foresaw Downfall
 Military experts here have been pesSlmistio for several days about the ability of Wainwrights weary men to hold out much longer against the relentless offensive unlaeshed by the overwhelming forces of tho Japanese. But most Of them, even yesterday, believed 1t would at least be several days--naybO aS much as two weeks-before Wainwright would have to withdraw completely to Corregidor.
 The peak Of the Japanese attack came yesterday when fresh assault troops were rushed into the front lines frequently, dive bombefs and | attack aircraft mereilessly bonn barded the defenders front lines and heavy enemy bombers harassed Wainwrights rear and supply, depotS.
 There was fear here that Japanese envelopment of the east flank might | have cut of Wainwfights main road of retreat. The only major road on the southern end of Bataan peflin- | sula runs down the ea8t ceeet to the southern tip of the peninsula. If the Japanese were able to dom- mate that tho men on the west flank might find it difficult to push their way through tho mountains and jungle trails in the interior.
 The most heartrending part Of this mornings conlnuniquo was the section revealing that the attempt of tho first corps of Wainwright failed due to complete physical exhaustion of the troops"
 These men have been under fire continuously for five days. Whereas the Japanese have been rushing fresh assault troops Into battle, Wainwright has had to depend upon the same men, 24 hours Q day, day after day, to repulSe hte new as- sauitS.
 The greatest handicap for the AmericansFiliplno forces has been the lack of aircraft. The Japanese have beer using all types of planes for five days-dlye bombers, fighter planes for Btfaflng ground troops, and heavy bonbers. Against those the defenders have had virtually no defense except for the few anti aircraft guns ct their disposal. And the lesson learned in this war s that only defense against attacking aircraft Is aircraft.
 The next phase of the battle for control of Manila Bay will be the | battle for the island forts. The big guns on Corregidor, and at the forts on three other small islands at tho entrance to the bay prob. ably will be able 10 keep tho enemy at bay aS long as their ammuni- ton holds out.
 But If the Japanese, after con. solidatlng their successes on Ba- taan, launch oil aH-otit, 24.houfsa- day attack on those fortresses, tho ammunition may not last long.
 Not Yet In Control
 The Japanese are long way from | complete domination Of the Philips pine Islands which comprise hun. dreds Of islands spread C2er many hundreds of miles. The American. Filipino forces, for example, still 1 hold the Island Of Mindanao south | of Luzoil, and yesterday tho War Department reported that tho dee lenders had staged C successful | raid there capturing q Japanese outpost and forcing withdrawal Of several Japanese units.
 The objective Of the Japanese of- fonSiVe oii Bataan, however, has been to gairlc ofltroi of Manila Bay, So long aS Bataan was held and while the island forts remain in American hands the may -- the best in the Far East cannot Do used by the enemy.
 The question raised immediately was tho prospects now Of reins forccniefts or supply shipments reaching corTegidor. President Roosevelt reluctantly told press conference some weeks ago that relief for the Philippine defenders was virtually an ifiiposslbiiity He pointed out then that for hundreds of miles iil ail directions from Manila Bay, the seq and air routes are dominated by the erleny-to the east and north by virtue Of the Japanese bases ofi the Mandated Islands; to the west by control Of the China gea and the ChiFest coast; To the south by the recent capture Of the Dutch East Indies and Singapore.
 When General Douglas MaeArthur left the islands to go to Australia, faint nope rose that if they could get out by boat there might Dc q possibility that supplies could get lR, but since then tho Japafese nave frightened their blockade around Lizo1.
 The decisive phase Of the battle