Evening star., 1942-03-21
Surprise Attack by
Wainwright Causes
Heavy Toll

The War Department reported
today a surprise raid by 1t. Gen.
Jonathan M. Wainwright's Amer
ican and Philippine troops on
Japanese forces near Zamboanga
on the Philippine island Of Min
danao, in which heavy casualties
were inflicted on the enemy.
American and Filipino losses were
described in communique as
negligible.
Meanwhile, the harbor defenses of
Manila Bay were reported under
extremely heavy" shelling from
japanese artillery. which included
240- millimeter tabout 8-inch guns.
The War Department said little
damage of military consequence was
done.
AS soon as the enemy fire opened,
the American batteries on Corregidor
and the other three forts turned
loose their own heavier guns on the
japanese batteries across the bay.
Corregidor. especially. is equipped
with l2-inch guns which are greatly
superior in range and effectiveness
to anything the Japanese have used
to date in artillery actions in the
Philippines.
Fighting on the Bataan Peninsula
continued in lull
Brett's Command Extended.
In Australia, the War Department
announced. Prime Minister John
Curtin had formally appointed 1t.
Gen George H. Brett, U. S. Army, to
command of Australian as we'll as
United States air forces operating
on the southern continent.
No special significance was at
tached to Gen. Wainwright's raid by
officials in Washington except to
indicate that Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur's successor in command was
constantly on the alert to seize every
possible advantage to harass the
enemy.
officials said the reference to
American troops on Mindanao
might have been to Philippine
scouts, or forces sent to the islands
from the continental United States
before the Pacific war. or both. The
scouts, although Filipinos. are an
integral part of the United States
Army but limited in service in the
islands.
Who was in command in Minda-
mao was not announced In early
stages of the fighting for the large
southern island, Lieut.. Col. Roger
Hilsman was in command of forces
which we're forced out of the port
of Davao.
500 Miles From Bataan Front.
The scene of the raid on the Jap
anese near Zamboanga is about 500
miles almost due south OF the Ba-
taan fighting front The picturesque
city was occupied by the enemy this
month.
The oommunuique based on re
ports received until 9:30 am, said: B.:
4. Philippine theater:
I'm a sudden surprise raid. Gen.
Wainright's American and Philip
pine troops on The island Of Min
danao inflicted neavy caualties on
the enemy near Zamboanga. Our
losses were negligible
HarbOr Oefenses Shelled.
The harbor defenses of Manila
Bay were under extremely heavy
shelling from enemy artillery To-
Gated on the south sho. : of Manila
Bay. Interslvr fire from 240-mm
guns was cTLentrated on our forti-
fications. V.ry little damage of
military consequence was inflicted
on our installations. Our guns ef-
fectively re'urred the fire
There vas 10 flghtir., in Bataan
% Australia:
With the concurrence of our Gov
ernment, tie Prime NJ mister of Au-
stralia has appointed 1t. Gen.
George H. Brett, United States
Army, to the command of the air
forces of Australia and the United
States opera;I' G in Australia.
IS. There is nothing to report
from other areas"