Detroit evening times., 1944-12-17
Adm. Woodward Says:
.Luzon Is Next
For NJ Arthur
Mindoro Invasion
Brings Crisis Near
BY CLARK WOODWARD
Rear Admiral. 4. s. Navy

BY CLARK WOODWARD
Rear Admiral. U. s. Navy
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 tINSJ
Gen. Macarthur is on the
march again.
His troops having made a sur
prise amphibious landing on the
southwest shore OF Mindoro, ne
is now little more than 100 miles
south Of LuZon-hiS oft-announced
goal.
The significance of this move is
that full advantage is being taken
OF available naval, air and mill
tary strength TO push nearer II
startegic Luzon. the occupation
of which would put the American
forces in position TO cut deeply
into Japans stolen empire.
LUZoN AN IDEAL BASE
Luzon. because of it's geographic
situation and considerable land
area. makes il an ideal location
for large military establishment
and for land-based air power 10
cover the entire Philippine Archl-
pelago and the coast of Asia from
Korea To Hainan Island.
Moreover, a great advance base
could be established in LuZon-
from which lines OF communiCa-
ton would connect with Pearl
Harbor in the east-in- -pfepafa-
ration for the final invasion Of
China and Japan.
Mindoro is the seventh largest
island of the Philippine Archi-
pelago. Being due south of Luzou
and separated from it by Verde
Island Passage-only few miles
across at its greatest width-the
island is in the best strategic po-
sition for the invasion of Luzon.
TERRIFIC COMMANDMENT
The landing on Mindoro fol
lowed a terrific preinvasion naval
and air bombardment participated
in by cruisers. destroyers and
carriers under the command o.
Rear Adm. Arthur Struble, who
also had commanded the invasion
,of Ormoc. eight days previously
AS this air force is reported {
have moved 600 miles in inland
waters before swinging in toward
the landing,-it is probably thai
the course from Leyte was to the
southwark. through the MindanaC
tSea. thence westward into the
Sulu Sea. hypassing the islands
of Negos and Iloilo in the fina
northward lap.
Such movement of the invasion
force unquestionably kept kib
/ itzing Jap reconnaissance plane
If there were any-guessing a.
to its destination.
HALSEY'S AIR UMBRELLA
However. while this force was
en- route, carrier-based planes ol
Adm. Halsey's Third Fleet maoe
devastating attacks on and ovcl
lLuzon in strikes against air in
stallations in order 10 knock out
and hold japanese air forces In
that area so as TO prevent in
| reference with the landing.
At the same time the army'i
Fifth Air Corps on Beyte de-
livered Gripping blows on enemy
airfields throughout the centr1
Philippines in order to prevent
any attacks being made on The
invasion force at sea.
Thus the team work betwee'
the air forces - both land-baset
and carrier-borne-and Gen. Mae
Arthur's amphibious forces was
perfectly co-ordinated.
CRISIS IMMINENT
The further fact that coinciden'
tally with the invasion of Min
doro the Filipino guerillas
throughout the islands, have
risen in an all-out effort against
the japanese garrisons and air
fields seem 10 indicate that the
crisis is nearer at hand thar
previously thought.
From Leyte's airfields oul
planes can dominate the whole
Philippine group. and with Ameri'
can control extended into Samar
both main ship channels through
the archipelago and much OF Its
internal waters will come under
close control of our navy.
When ready TO move Gen. Mac
Arthur has several choices of ac-
tion, as follows;
MAKE an amphibious leaT
northward. landing either or
Luzon's main west coast or on the
tail-like peninsula Of southern
LuZon.
2-Backtrack 10 Mindanao.
3-Spread control to the west
ward. definitely severing the
main Japanese strength on Luzon
and Mindanao.
NOTE: The opinions ex-
pressed and the assertions made
herein are my oUn and are not
TO be construed as official or
rejecting in any Wdy the UieUs
Of .he navy department or the
naval ssruiee at large. -
WASHING MACHINE