The Wilmington morning star., 1945-02-17
laps Doomed
lob Finished.
In Two Weeks
Invasion Fleet Passes Cor
regidor Without
Opposition

MANILA, Saturday, FEB. l7.-f
-Bataan has been captured by
+be Yanks-accomplishing in lit.
tIe over two weeks what it took
Tanan more than three months to
do in 1912.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur an
nounced today the regaining of the
historic peninsula where hundreds
of Americans died near the war S
outset before forced by lack OF
arms and food to capitulate April
3, 1912,
The master stroke was an am
phibious swing by the 18th Army
Corps from Olongapo Naval base
OH Subic Bay around to Mariveles,
the south tip of Bataan, protected
by guns Of the U. S. Seventh Fleet
and planes of the Far East Air
Force.
Maj. Gen. Charles P. Halls 18th
Corpsmen landed at Meriveles
Thursday morning. Preceding the
landing, the harbor was cleared of
mines in a daring and skillful OPP
eration,' today's communique
said.
The American battle for Ba-
taan's recapture opened January
% with Yank landings on the Sam
bales province coast in a push to-
ward Olongapo.
From Mariveles, big land guns
can be set up to shell Corregidor
Associated Press Correspondent
Jim Hutchinson, aboard the attack
force flagship, said the invasion
fleet steamed unscathed past Cor
regidor, which fired only a half
dozen shots.
The 38th Division units COM
manded by Brig. Gen. William C.
Chase pushed quickly inland from
a beachhead of 500 yards. Bomb
ed and shelled Mariveles was oc-
cupied Immediately. Two nearby
airfields were seized.
Liz IoIiEoy Iloi W odll I'LL OuSIl
gap little more than four miles
wide between the Rock and Coch-
mos point on Bataan.
Gunfire from Corregidor for
tress was neutralized beforehand
by cruiser and destroyer batteries,
and by American Warplanes.
The invasion started from the
Olongapo naval base in Subic Bay,
immediately north of Bataan on
The Luzon west coast. Olongapo
was captured last month after a
virtually unopposed amphibious
landing on the Zambeles province
coast.
Macarthur said the landing was
made along the south coast Of Ba-
!aah at number of points center
ing about Mariveles Bay, which is
Immediately opposite Corregidor.
american losses were light,
Seizure of the peninsula, on
winch Americans and Filipinos
fought A gallant but losing battle
N the spring Of 1912, puts the
tanks IN position for knockout
blows against Corregidor, the for
uesS Which guards the Manila bay
mouth.
i, Tokyo radio announced earlier
uid' score or so of Ameri-
. mlnesweepers were clearing
w., me enamel in preparation for
t tnei' INVASION by warships and
1roopShips.)
- oA'n division Yanks drove down
se penlnsula's Manila bay coast
, wi captured Pillar, meanwhile,
t5 no moved NOV toward a juncture with
VIZ VIE 10th Division along an east
west road.
t,. me japanese sealed off on Ba-
'ah peninsula are doomed.
Aa Ill War-blackened Manila, Mac
An snuf announced tina three
i nn TIC divisions were continu-
ybe me progressive reduction of
oI Is eThemy's final position" in the
bav ~ dlllufos district along the
NJ MY snofe Just south of the mouth
% the Pasig river,
tro last OF the capital American
DIPS dips seized two airfields at Man
re ~ me south of the city, patrols
la roi'e ed the west gate of Fort Will
nam m Mckinley.
po mr,tsflcan bombers which have
for " n.} Corregidor almost daily
AZ + tosa dropped heavy load Of
trss. 'oAS CT explosives on the for
er De sls bad weather, U. s. fight
tack crossed w the China Sea to at
strst hato airdrome on Formosa
trs iang parked bomber and a
lice small treighters were
'A''nued on Page Three; Col. 81