The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-02-06
Three Forces
Are Driving
Through City
General Says Complete De-
struction OF Enemy
Is Imminent

MANILA, Tuesday, Feb. 6.-[P)--
Manila, Americas bright jewel Of
the Orient, was reconquered today.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur official.
1y proclaimed its liberation as three
Yank columns from North, south
and east struck for the kill against
any Japanese left in the city. He
said complete destruction" of the
enemy is imminent.
Freedom came to 800 prisoners
of war and $50 civilian internees
at filthy, torture chambered Bill.
bid penitentiary. Released from
the vermin-infested prison by 37th
Division Yanks, they made a total
of about $500 when added to others
liberated earlier at Santo Tomas
by the First Cavalry Division.
Japan is our final goal" Gen.
eral Macarthur said in his state.
ment officially announcing the re.
conquest of the city which the
Japanese occupied January 2, 1912
one week after it was proclaimed
an "open city,
The doom of any lingering Nip
ponese was sealed when the 18th
Airborne Division of the Eighth
Army, which earlier seized Tagay.
tay ridge by paratroop action, roll.
ed IS miles to enter Manila from
the south.
The First Cavalry made the orig.
inal entry Saturday night from the
east, followed by the 9th from the
north. Both are elements of the
Sixth Army.
1.-THE fall of Manila was the end
of one great phase and set the
stage for another" Macarthur
said.
1--WE shall not rest until cur
enemy is completely overthrown.
We do not count anything done as
as long as anything remains to be
done Our motto becomes "On
to Tokyo -
The wording of MacArthur's
statement could be interpreted as
a bid for continuing command in
the campaigns against Japan prop
er and move to spike rumors
that the Philippines would be the
end Of the road for the general.
The official proclamation made
it clear lightning cleanup could
be expected.
Johnny Doughboy won the city
back % days after the landing at
Gulf and 80 days after
the original Philippines landing at
Leyte.
The three way push left the
Japanese no avenue of escape 9TH
er than in the direction of Manila
Bay, an area under the constant
bombsights OF American planes.
(Absie, American broadcastina
station in Europe, quoted an NBC
broadcast as sayiil gthe Japanese
are Withdrawing to Corregidor;
One temporary haven could b
Bataan peninsula, where Ameri.
cans and Filipinos made their hero
&c stand in 1912. Today's commune
lue announced Eighth and Sixth
Army columns have junctured al
he base of the peninsula and con.
rol all roads leading into it.
The First Cavalrymen who held
he Gordon around Santo Tomas
we're joined yesterday by reinforc.
ng columns, thus easing the situa.
ion and assuring complete liberia.
ion of the internees there.
Troops pouring into the city were
lampered in their movements by
hrongs of returning civilians,
many carrying their belongings.
Bridges still were being rebuilt
It the outskirts and crossings
here had to be denied to thou.
ands of civilians to permit mill
airy use Of temporary bridges and
erries.
The damming up OF crowds be-
ind the rivers gave the military
olice "a hour headache as they
ried to keep essential traffic flow
lg.
American Liberators began the
patchwork on the next job, recap
ire of Cavite naval base on the
outh shore Of Manila Bay and
Island at the bays
aouth. by raiding both in great
orce Sunday.
Two of the main bridges SPAN
ing the Pasig river through the
enter of Manila were blown up by
ne enemy. These were the beauti-
III Quezon bridge and a structure
AIMED the Ayala to the south.
Continued on Page Two; Col. 81