The Wilmington morning star., 1944-10-21

Al AuSeA 0Ad AIOM AcAIC6uOA
in 1912. nt.
the way for landings, listed til.
destruction of 81 planes and tn,
sinking of a large enemy cargo
ship.
The bag of planes raised t.
more than /, 400 the number knock
ed out by carrier planes since they
opened preparations for the Phi
lippines invasion Oct. 9 with at
tacks on the Ryukyus within 20t
miles of Japan. .-...
Recoiling from the surprise
landings, the Nipponese were re-
ported Smelling the invaders with
mortars and artillery.
The Yanks, however pushed into
open country despite this resis-
lance, said an American network
pool broadcast from Leyte, and
one column was closing in on the
city of Tacloban." That city is al
the northern end of Leyte. above
the point where one landing was
made.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, who
went ashore with his forces
Thursday u. S. tirne) was quoted
in field dispatch as saying that
there was little more than one
Japanese division on Leyte.
Its position was hopeless, he tolo
Viii lam D. Dickinson, represent.
ing the combined American press
American naval and air powers
ne explained, would make rein
forcement impossible.
There was no late word from
the forces that landed farther south
on Leyte near San Jose and the
southern tip of the island.
While his assault forces stream.
ed ashore along the eastern coast
of Leyte island, Macarthur drama
tically broadcast this appeal to the
islanders:
Il have returned Rally to me
Let the indomitable spirit of Ba-
tan and Corregidor lead on. AS the
lines of battle roll forward to
bring you within the zone of op'
Grafton, rise and strike
In announcing the re-invasiin,
Macarthur said the operation
caught the enemy by surprise and
beachheads were secured with
small casualties \.
(The Tokyo radio was heard by
the Federal Communications Com,
mission to say that "full-scale
onslaught" against Macarthur S
forces was about to be launched.
The broadcast was beamed to the
United States.),
Speaking over the radio voice
of freedom" as reported by the
Office of War Information, MacAr-
thur informed the Filipinos that
their president, Sergio Osmena,
and members of his cabinet were
at his side.
1.-The seat of your government Is
now therefore firmly reestablish-
ed on Philippine SOIL" he continu.
ed. "The hour of your redemption
is here. now call upon your SUI
preme effort that the enemy may
know from the temper of an arous-
ed and outraged people within that
he has a force to contend with no
Less violent than is the force
committed from without"
Macarthur appeal, made few
hours after he had landed with
air and naval bombardment, came
his assault forces after a terrific
two and half years after his
memorable words. II shall re-
turn" spoken upon reaching Aus
tralia from Corregidor.
Every available able-bodied sur.
vivor of historic Bataan and Cor.
regidor was with him.
Elements of 1t. Gen. Walter
Krueger's Sixth army, veterans
of New Guinea warfare, and at
tackled units from the central Pa.
cific with supporting forces made
the long expected landings.
The Judgements on Leyte, on the
eastern side of the Archipelago
were rapidly extended by groune
forces, Macarthur said announcing
the operation. Supplies and heavy
equipment Immediately began
flowing ashore ir large volume
Macarthur, in personal com
mand at the scene, said the opera
ton Eat one strike splits in two
the japanese forces in the Philip
pines.'' He estimated these at 225,
600, commanded by Field Marshal
Count Terauchi, and pointed out
that Japanese on the big southern
island of Mandinao were virtually
isolated by the operation. ~.t
A dispatch from APP war CORE
spondent Dean Schneider, on Leyte.
said the assault troops struck 81
multaneously at three points. One
beachhead extended from Sa,
Ricardo, about three miles south
Of the islands principal city o.
Tacloban, to Palo. Another was
between San Jose and Dulag. A
third was reported at Panaon "or
the. southern tip of Leyte, "bu1
probably referring to the island
Of Panaon, Immediately south Of
Leyte. so.
These main landings were pre-
ceded by Judgements on Dinaga1
and Homonhon islands, command
ing the entrance Of 'LeXte gulf.
The Seventh fleet, commanded
by Vice Adm. Thomas Kinca.d,
and elements OF Adm. William r.
Halsev,s rarnpa ains Third fleet