The Wilmington morning star., 1944-10-22
AMERICANS GAIN
ON lS-MILE Line
Macarthur Warns Japan
csc Will Be Held Re-
sponsible For Tortures
Bv MURLIN SPENCER
Associated Press
War CORRESPONDENT

ASSUCldtCU L ASSS
War Correspondent
G E. N E R A L MacAR-
THURS HEADQUARTERS,
Philippines, Sunday, Oct. ~:
capital city OF
Tacloban, it's airfield and the
town. of Dulag have been
captured by American inva-
sion forces driving inland on
Leyte in the central Philip
pines all along an 10 mile
front to a depth Of four miles,
headquarters reported today.
As success on success was scor-
ed by the largest invasion army
vet massed in the Pacific ocean
areas. Gen. Douglas Macarthur
solemnly warned the Japanese
government and military leaders
they would be held accountable 1or
the fortunes at Bataan in l942 anu
for any repetitions against either
soldiers or civilians.
The first cavalry division wnlcn
overran Tacloban airfield the 1lrst
day of fighting surged into Iac!o-
ban itself last night. The caplure
Of Tacloban gave the Americans
control of San Juanico strait be-
tween Leyte and the island OF Sa'
mar.
Both the airfield and the capital
citv were abandoned by the jap
anese.
Elements of the 96th division
captured Dulag, 20 miles south OF
Tacloban yesterday without diff
Guilty. then beat off Japanese tanks
before beginning drive up the
Leyte valley.
I HEADQUARTERS said the Japanese
/ airforce has made more scattered
attacks against some vessels of the
60O-ship convoy which brought the
massive force from Dutch N W
/ Guinea to the invasion scene.
i Because of effective attacks BY
carrier planes Of the Seventh fleet
on enemy airfields in the Visayan
and Palawan islands, the Japanese
air efforts against shipping in Ped
70 bay were restricted to sporadlc
sneak attacks.
The victories in TIL Tacloban
area placed the Yanks on the west
shore of a strait leading to the
Philippines inland sea.
Japs Counter-Attack
The captors of Dulag, part OF
the oath corps, were forced to beat
off a spirited Japanese tank and
infiltration counterattack before re-
Stunning their push beyond that
town. Six light enemy tanks spear
headed Japanese artillery and in
fantry in blows aimed at the adj
vancing columns. American armor
suffered some damage before the
foe was driven from gun positions
and en.renchments they had reoc-
cupied.
The new successes announced
came after strong enemy positions.
which included concrete pillboxes
and prepared artillery positions
were eliminated by infiltration to
avoid the more costly frontal as
saults.
A short distance south Of Tao.
loban, at Palo, where Fred Hamp-
son, Associated Press war cores.
pdhdent earlier reported the Jap
anese put up heavy mortar fire
resistance against landings, the 60
ing still was tough.
Yesterday artillery and dive.
bombers supported the oath divi-
sion's uphill struggle to deepen the
wedge in that sector. DivebomberS
attacked 20 truckloads Of Japa.
nese.
Issues Statement
The general, whose forces have
in two days seized control of vital
stretches Of the east of Leyte in
the central Philippines n d nou
have a base for army bombers to
use in augmenting carrier plane
raids, issued a statement which
fairly cracked with his indigna-
ton.
Referring to ''unimpeachable ev-
idence" of degradations at Bataan
land even of brutality the gen.
eral said:
For such violations, the imper.
ial japanese government will, Of
course, be fully responsible to my
government.
AS COMMUNICATIVE chief OF the
Allied forces in rhe field, I shall
in addition, during the conduct Of
the present campaign, hold the
japanese military authorities in the
Philippines Immediately liable for
any harm which may result from
failure to accord prisoners Of war.