The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-07
Nine Transports Landed
Many Thousands More
Japanese Troops
OLD AGUINALDO IS
BACK IN LIMELlGHT
Japs Have Induced Former
Rebel Leader to Rogue t
FiIipin0s to Give Up
BY MACK JOHNSON
United Press Staff Correspondent

DI MEASh JOI1INSoN
United Press Staff Correspondent
Washington, February T.
CUP - General Douglas
MacArthur's battle-scarred
little army of American and
Filipino troops braced their
lines today in Bataan PENN
sula for a new and savage
attack by greatly superior
numbers of japanese which
was expected at any moment.
Heavy japanese reinforcement YES
indicated in the arrival of nine
transports at Lingayen Gulf, on the
China Sea north Of Bataan, there
has been a lull in the fighting fer
two days.
A War Department ccnmunique
revealed that new Japanese troops
had been debarked in the gulf, where
the invaders early in the campaign
established their principal bridge
head. The communique noted ar
increase in patrol operations alzo
in enemy aerial attacks which caused
no damage. MacArthur's troops were
believed to be holding lines On a To-
mile front about half way down the
narrow peninsula which separates
Manila Bay from the China Sea.
The japanese troops, forming the
14th army under command OF Lieut.
Gen. Masaharu Homma, were be-
lieved to have exceeded 100000 men
before the arrival of reinforcenenls.
outnumboring MacArthur's forces
by as much as 10 to l.
Jap Casualties Heavy
The reinforcements were probably
landed not only to assure fresh man
power for a new drive to hurl Mac.
Arthur's forces southwark on the
peninsula toward Corregidor, island
fortress guarding the entrance TO
Manila Bay, but to make up for
casualties. Military observers be-
lieve Japanese casualties have been
unusually high in their unsuccessful
efforts to wear down the hard-1ight-
ing defenders
In noting the arrival OF the Jap
anese transports, the var depart
ment said the troops were not only
being used to reinforce Bataan Gi-
visions, but at "otfer points on the
island CT Luzon." There was no eX-
PLANTATION of the reasons for rein
forcements at other points Oh
Luzon. Oh which Japanese occupied
Manila is located.
There was speculation, however,
that there may have been develop
ments unfavorsble to the invsGera
elsewhere in the island. There haze
been reports of guerrilla csnCs
raiding a japanese air base in tho
northern tip of Luzon.
AguinaldO III Limelight
Japanese propagandists have been
active recently IN attempting to il.
duce the defending forces to sur.
render, as well as IL attempting Ia
wean away the Filipino troops and
from the United Statca
These appeals have been rejected.
even laughed at-by both Americans
and Filipinos, the war department
reported.
Ie ldleSI ueNS Gil tll!S pIOSd5aIG6
drive was i'll communique telling
how the creating a sort
Of Philippine quisling" To-
Emilio Aguiualdo. who led
.he PHILIPPINE revolt against United
States in 1899, to radio an address
from Manila to Macarthur urging
aim to surrender Immediately.
THE appeal was ignored by Gen.
Macarthur" the war department
added.
japanese aviatols again were
cropping surrender" literature over
lines. This type OF APP
zeal is designed to get the Filipino
roops to desert by telling them tina
Continued on Pace .