The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-10-22

The Americans and F1llplnOS VIII
of 1912 will sleep easier tonight, fol
Japanese DIVISION which did the
dirty work" on Bataan.
Before going ashore from the
cruiser Nashville a few hours be-
hind the assault waves Of Ameri-
can forces, Gen. Douglas MacArth-
ur told me:
I am particularly anxious to get
at the division which is on Leyte.
It's the 18th. The outfit that did
the dirty work at Bataan. They've
been living off the fat of the land
for more than two years and I be-
lieve they'll be little softer now.
''But soft or not, we'll get them"
Talking informally aboard t h
cruiser over a chocolate soda, Mac
Arthur said tough fighting may lie
ahead before the Philippines are
freed of the enemy, but he left no
doubt that the Leyte operation
seals the fate of the Japanese on
that island. He indicated no time
will be lost in following up advan-
tages gained in thepresent move
and that American losses will not
be heavy.
Throughout the voyage, the SUM-
bronzed Macarthur, returning at
last to gain his revenge for Bataan
and Corregidor, scorned precau-
tons, as usual, for his personal
safety. He was asked if he wanted
a lifebelt.
mo, thank you," he replied. II
have too much faith in this ship
for that"
Despite the compliment to a ship
he considers one Of the most eff
cient in the U. S. Navy, military
men closest to the general express
ed belief that mis- disregard of per-
sonal danger stemmed from an i'm
plicit belief that it is his destiny to
iiberate the Philippines and that
can happen to prevent it.
we have achieved complete sur
prise in the fullest military sense"
said during the infor-
NAL discussion. The Japs expect
ed an attack in Mindanao or the
northern Philippines. Their b e
divisions have been concentrated in
and their reinforcements
have been sent there.
Our air strikes were made there
and Adm. Halsey's strikes were to
the north. There are about 225, 1000
enemy combat troops in the Philip
pines. Our Leyte landing will cat
them in two. We will have losses,
but they will not be large"
Macarthur said the Japanese
have little more than one division
on Leyte and American naval and
air power will make it impossible
for them to reinforce the island.
The trip to the Philippines was
Macarthur was COM
pletely relaxed. His plans had been
made. With him was skeleton
staff and his offices were set up
in a cabin.
Miles beyond Us was an unbroken
stream of aircraft carriers and 9TH
er warships.
Even as the hour Of landing drew
rear Macarthur was unruttled. he
slept well, ate hearty breakfast
then went briefly on deck smoking
his familiar corn cob pipe.
Then he mapped for about an
hour. About Is minutes before the
scheduled landing at 10 am. The
cruiser moved in toward the beach'
The general then went to h
bridge. We could see shells from
battlesh;ps exploding in the hills
behind the prospective beachneads.
At 9:58 the first waves OF landing
craft hit the shore ahead OF sche-
dule.
Ten minutes later word was
dashed back that the troops were
500 yards inland and advancing
through open country WITHOUT op-
position.
Satisfied that everything was go
ing according to schedule, MacAr-
thur went to his cabin for an early |
preparatory to going
ashore.
With him in the landing barge
were Filipino President Sergio Os-
mena; Brig. Gen. Carlos Romulos.
resident commissioner of the Phil
ippines; 1t. Gen. Richard K. Suth-
erland, American chief of staff who
left the Philippines in 1912 with
Macarthur; and 1t. Gen. George
Kenney. commander of the Far
East Air forces.