Evening star., 1944-10-21
Philippines
Continued From First Page.

Grafton might well suggest that
even greater operations, with
more landings on other islands,
are in the offing against the esti-
mated 225 1000 Japanese defending
the PhilippinesD
Every report from the invasion
scene, while varying in the degree
of opposition detailed, placed the
Yanks on the move.
On the south end of Cancabato
Bay, Correspondent Asahel Bush
said the town of San Jose was in
ruins as result of the devastating
bombardment from warships in Leyte
Gulf which included the battleship
California-the one the Japanese
thought they sank at Pearl Harbor.
Town Reported Falling.
Mr.. Bush said what once was San
Jose" was on the point of falling
1t is on the inland road to Tacloban,
capital of Leyte, on the opposite end
of the bay.
Riding on the foredeck of a tank,
he said the invaders attack was so
thorough that the advance to the
towns outskirts was accomplished
without encountering a sign of a
live Japanese.
Tokyo radio, after considera BILE
silence, came through with claims
that the japanese on Leyte were
cutting deep into enemy landing
points" but in the same breath adj
mitted the Yanks were heading
toward Tacloban." The japanese
military waited until today before
acknowledging the Leyte landings
in a communique.
Both Gen. Macarthur and Ad-
miral Chester w. Nimitz reported
widespread destruction of enemy
planes-pushing beyond 1,40O the
total wiped out since October 9 in
the air offensive building up to the
invasion-and more blows at jap
snese shipping.
Further Damage Inflicted.
In communique last night at
Pearl Harbor, Admiral Nimitz said
naval air strikes, co-ordinated with
the landings, resulted in knocking
out 81 more planes, sinking large
cargo ship and five small craft and
damaging % ships and % small
craft. His communique covered ac-
ton by planes of carrier task groups
from the Central Pacific against
Leyte, Cebu and Negros Islands and
the Manila area on Luzon.
Gen. MacArthurs communiuue
today reporting activities of carrier
planes from the 7th Fleet of the
Southwest Pacific area, directed over
the inland waters of the Central
Philippines" said 5,000-ton enemy
tanker, a freighter- transport. five
light naval craft and II barges were
bombed" The wording of the
communique suggested these were
sunk inasmuch as it specified two
5.O00-ton feet auxiliaries, 10 cargo
vessels, six light naval craft and
small ships were damaged" at
cost of two planes.
Gen. Macarthur also listed the
destruction of 80 enemy planes on
the ground-a testimonial to the
effectiveness of air attacks in rem
dering enemy Philippine fields use
less for takeoffs-and the shooting
down of four.
Commanders Listed.
Gen. Macarthur announced the
ground commanders helping him
fulfill his vow of two years and
seven months ago to return and lib
crate the Philippines.
Under Gen. Kruger are these
ground forces:
The 10th Corps, commanded by
Maj. Gen. Franklin C. Sebitz, and
the oath Corps, commanded by Maj.
Gen. John R. Hodge; Sd Engineers
Brigade, amphibious, commanded by
Brig. Gen. William Seavy, and sup
porting supply and other troops; 1st
Battery Division, Maj. Gen. Verne
8. Hart; 7th Infantry Division, Maj.
Gen. Archibald v. Arnold; oath In
fantry Division, Maj. Gen. Frederick
A. Irving, and 96th Infantry Divi-
sion, Mai, Gen. James L. Bradley.
tGen. Bradley went to West
Point from Springfield, Mo, and
was in the same class with 1t.
Gen. Omar Bradley, Moberly, Mo-,
to whom he is not related)
Ki1kaid Commands 7th Fleet.
Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid,
commander of the Allied naval
forces in the Southwest Pacific, Is in
command of the 7th Fleet. Elements
of Admiral william F. Halsey's Sd
Fleet are providing support. Naval
forces include an Australian squad
ron under Comdr. John A. Collins.
Other supporting elements include
the American Far Eastern Air Force
and the Royal Australian Air Force,
commanded by 1t. Gen. George c.
Kenney, and Sd Fleet carrier forces
under Vice Admiral Marc A.
Mitscher.
Amphibious operations are under
command of Rear Admiral Daniel
c. Barley and Rear Admiral Theo-
sore S. Wilkinsons1