Evening star., 1944-10-20
Philippines Positions Extended
After Leyte Landing in Force
Beuchheuds Won
With Small
Casualties
BY the Associated Press.

os NaS nSooNidltu EIeSS
GEN. MacARTHUR'S HEAD
QUARTERS, Philippines, Oct. 20
Gen. Douglas Macarthur ha
returned to the Philippines and
In his own words, has lat on,
stroke split in two" Japanes,
forces estimated at 225,OOO de-
Tending the islands.
His troops climaXed a 2,500-mile
advance through japanese defenses
in the last l6 months with three
slashlng landings on the broad sandy
beaches of Eastern Leyte Island in
the Central Philippines.
Our ground troops are rapidly
extending their positions, said Gen
Macarthur, who was in personal
command of the operation, "and
supplies and heavy equipment are
already flowing ashore in great
volume"
Casualties Light.
The japanese, expecting landings
to the south at Mindanao. were SO
completely surprised that beach
heads in the Tacloban area were
secured with small casualties" said
todays communique issued from
the field of operations. Tacloban is
the main city of Leyte.
Can American network pool
broadcast from Leyte recorded
by NBC at noon today reported
that the Yanks are moving for
ward despite stiff enemy resist
ance in some sectors
C'The enemy'S defense force
seems to be concentrating their
strength on one of the center
landing beaches and American
troops had an extremely tough
time getting ashore under heavy
mortar and artillery fire" Radio
Reporter Gordon Walker said.
Several of our craft were hit.
However, l find that the situa-
ton is now under control and
the doughboys are holding their
own.
C'The northern landing party,
one of the strongest forces,
landed IL minutes ahead of
schedule and moved inland 500
yards before a shot was fired on
them. They are now closing in
on the city of Tacloban.D
Points of Landing.
One force landed between San
Ricardo, approximately miles south
of the main city of Tacloban, and
Palo.
Another strong force landed along
the coastline between San Jose and
Dulag
A combat team went ashore at
Panaon on the southern tip of
Leyte.
The beach fronts are 3l2 miles in
width and approximately II miles
apart.
A correspondent said combat
teams landed previously on the
northern tip of Dinagat Island and
the southern portion of Homonhon
to secure enemy installations and
command the entrance to Leyte
Cult for passage of the main assault
forces.
Enters Decisive Stage.
Decisive battles are shaping up
in the Philippines, Tokyo newspa-
pers warned their readers.
With the enemy shifting his po-
sition for another frontal clash after
the disastrous defeat off Taiwan
CFormosa), the Pacific war is en-
tering the decisive stage Domei
news agency said in a broadcast re-
corded by the Federal Communica-
tions Commission.
THE Philippines" said the news
paper Yomiuri Hochi Shimbun, has
become a battle-ground for decisive
battles between the United States
and Japan"
Six hours after Domei had con-
ceded that American forces had
landed on Leyte, the Japanese con-
trolled Manila radio broadcast in
English that the japanese army
has routed United States re-invad-
ers of the Philippines off the Leyte
Gulf"
The broadcast followed. however.
Continued on Page A-4, Column l.