Evening star., 1944-10-23
Yonks Overrun Strong Positions
In Drive to rap Jops on Leyte;
Allies Increase Nazi Pressure
Tunk-Led Americans
Move Up Open Valley
Inland From DuIuq
By the Associated Press.

~ tAtS NacoONidtSd E-IeoS.
GEN. MacARTHUR'S HEAD
QUARTERS, Philippines, Oct. 2
(Via Army Radio America
soldiers, pushing westward o.
Leyte Islands southern front
today overran strong Japanes
defense positions and were try
ing to trap enemy troops re
treating up the wide Leyt
Valley.
Associated Press War Correspond
ent Al Dopking, on the southern
front, reported that 7th Infantr,
Division troops, led by tanks, wer,
moving up the open valley inlanc
from Dulag, where one of the frs
American beachheads was estah
lished. The troops engaged in tn,
action were under command of 1t
Col. Herbert Edmundson of Georgia
The country leading northwest.
ward from Dulag is fiat and idea
for tank warfare. The Leyte Valley
over which the forces of liberation
are moving, is Is miles wide on
the southwest.
Flanked by Mountains.
1t tapers to 10 miles wide on the
northeast. The valley is fanked
by mountain ranges with peaks ris-
ing up to 1900 feet.
The action west of Dulag ap-
peared to center on the highway
leading from the east coast to the
roadside town of San Pablo, 7 miles
inland. Beyond that town was
Burauen, west end of the provincial
road. There it turns northward to-
ward Dagami. highway junction.
Supposedly, the japanese on
the southern front were retreat
ing northward up the open val
ley or falling back into noun
tain positions on the southwest
of the valleyD
Meanwhile, Tacloban, the provin-
cial capital, occupied by the Yanks
after they took the airfield in that
sector, became the temporary cap
ital of the first free government ot
the Philippines. in more than two
years.
Two Towns Overrun.
In capturing Tacloban, the Yanks
overran the small towns of San
Ricardo and Palo on the hanks OF
the northern beachhead, established
last week. They are south of Tao
loban.
AS his troops pressed forward
Gen. Macarthur announced prep
arations already are under way for
construction of great base for
future operations around the cap
tured airdromes of Tacloban and
Dulag.
The supply problem for Japans
vicious 18th Division already is be-
coming difficult after their "pre-
liminary defeat" and might become
acute, should they be forced into
the hills, Gen. Macarthur said In
his communique today.
Work on Airfields Begun.
The role of this strategic island
was underlined by the announce
ment that work has begun on the
two captured airfelds and other
installations to prepare "a great
base for all arms for future oper-
ations."
Gen. Macarthur and President
Sergio Osmena inaugurated the
Philippine Commonwealth Govern
ments authority in liberated terri
tory during dramatic ceremony at
Tacloban, designated as the tenn
porary capital.
The announcement concerning the
enemy's supply problems apparently
referred to the effect of paralyzing
aerial blows against communication
lines and flank japanese bases
These strikes continued, with bomb
ers hitting other Visayan Islands,
surrounding Leyte, and Mindanao,
as we'll as more distant bases.
Minor japanese Raids.
In return, the japanese made
minor Intellectual" air raids against
American shipping in the Gulf of
Leyte.
&C. Yates Mcdaniel, Associated
Press war correspondent with the
9Th Army beachhead, reported
that the Army's superior fire.
power was coming into play
against japanese delaying action
in that sector near the center of
the American front. Fleet units
supported the infantrymen with
inshore bombardments against
enemy resistance pockets in low
hills along the road leading to
Leyte Valley.
tMr. Mcdaniel said the Amer
lean hold was firm on Tacloban
and Dulac.)
The communique did not specify
the preparations which have begun
to groom Leyte as a great striking
base within enemy-controlled terri.
tory, Its phraseology, however, in.
dicated its harbor facilities, as vel
as the airfelds, would be utilized
possibly to base naval forces.
Small Freighters Sunk.
Bomber raids on other Visaya1
Islands sank three small freighter
and probably sank four others
Heavy units blasted Mindanao with
"a tons of explosives, starting fire
at Cagayan, principal port ant
transportation center in the north
ern part of the island. No opposi
ton was encountered there.
Fighters strafed a 23-truck con
voy on Sayre highway, Mindanac
and medium bombers destroyed bar
racks and float planes in the interior
Other raids included fire. -kindlin,
attacks on Balikpapan, Borneo OF
center, by night reconnaissance
planes.
Crerur Ill for Three Weeks
OTTAWA, Oct. % (P.-Lt. Gen
r II Il >f L,