Evening star., 1944-12-16
Philippines
Continued From First Page )

ing the legendary myth of the
Greater East Asia co-prosperity
sphere and imperilling the so-called
imperial lifeline"
Employing new tactics, rocket
firing planes of a fast aircraft car
rier task force Of Vice Admiral John
8. Mccain kept Luzon's 100 air
fields, including the network around
Manila, under attack night and day
for more than "a hours.
Covered by an umbrella of car
rier and land based planes, the
convoy, commanded by Rear Ad-
miral A. D. Struble, left Leyte Gull
in midafternoon Tuesday.
Less than "a hours after the
convoy started for Mindoro, the
Japanese picked us up and attacked
half f-heartedly," reported Murlin
Spencer, Associated Press war cor
respondent aboard Admiral Struble s
flagship, in December Is dispatch
Later that day, December 13
there was a second attack. But yes
terday, which was considered the
critical period because we were SC
close to key japanese bases, passed
without single attack on the 20
mile-long convoy
Blackout Delayed.
Mr.. Spencer said the Japanese
were so uncertain of the convoy S
destination that lights on Mindorc
were not blacked out until the
warships were nearing shore.
| Aboard a covering force flagship
off Mindoro, Jim Hutcheson, Asso-
ciated Press war correspondent, said
The only hitch in the landing
came when a warship signaled
Beach in front of our bombardment
sector Is crowded with welcoming
Filipinos and carabaos (water buff
faloes). What shall we do?'
Rear Admiral Russell S. Berkey
ordered Withhold fire" until the
Filipinos could seek safety.
Elmont Waite, Associated Press
war correspondent with the assault
forces. said the landing at 7:30 am
yesterday on the northernmost
beachhead was so bloodless that the
only man in one company whose
progress was impeded was STAFF
Sergt. William Hantone of Canaan
daigua, N. Y. Arms imprisoned him
When he broke the embrace-he
confronted native woman who was
almost hysterical from joy anc
fright.
Tanks Are Put Ashore.
Mr.. Waite saw: Tanks roll ashore
bulldozers begin clearing roads, piers
pushed up to ships ramps, trucks
and vehicles rumble on the beach
Engineering parties speed inlanc
with the troops to start construction
Of military installations, double rows
of men, formed from ship to shore
toss box on box in relays to beach
storage pile.
The elated Filipinos refused pay
for their services, exclaiming:
mo pay, no pay. Very glad helI
Americans"
Gen. MacArthur's disclosures con.
lcerning the guerrillas lifted the vel
on activities of Americans and Fill.
pinos In progress since the early
days Of 1912.
On Mindanao, they have cleared
the northern Provinces of Lanas
and Misamis Occidental, thus Sc.
curing Iligan Bay.
i On Bohol, just west of Southern
Leyte, they have cleared the Jap
i. from all the island except the tow
of Tagbilarn on the southwest end.
i Assistance on Cebu.
Il On Cebu, they have driven tn
]; enemy from the south end into tn
central sector and are playing havo
with communications there.
i On Negros, all the south half Is ii
! guerrilla hands except the town o
u Dumaguette on the southeast, ant
1t is flanked by the capture of Sibu
i tan and LuzlTiga. They also hol,
Bais In the southeast, San Carlos II
the northeast and Isabella In tn,
central interior.
i On Panay, they have captured
lEstancia In the northeast, Zarragi