Evening star., 1945-01-26
Yanks Hunt Japs
In Hill Positions
Over Clark Field
Captured Base Could
Be Made UnusubIe
By Enemy Guns

MAP on Page A-4.)
BY the Associated Press.

GEN. MacARTHUR'S HEAD
QUARTERS, Luzon, Jan. 26.-
Clark Field, with it's IT airstrips
within striking distance of the
China coast, was firmly in Amer
lean hands today along with ad-
jacent Fort Stotsenburg. Trium-
phant Yanks rolled on south
against such light opposition
that combat officers expressed
doubt the japanese would make
determined fight short of Ma
Mia, about 40 miles to the south.
Clark Field, most mighty de-
veloped aviation center in the Phil
ippines with its extensive network
OF landing strips, shops and other
installations, was captured early
yesterday by Maj Gen. Oscar w.
Griswold's 14th Army Corps.
The Americans found few Japs
but numerous land mines and BOBBY
traps as they swarmed over Clark
Field in pursuit of an enemy gar
rison of perhaps 5000 which fed
into the hills where artillery posi-
tions could keep the airstrips un-
usable.
Clark Field Major Prize.
The main body of Japanese was
being bounded by American artil-
lery. Gen. MacArthur's communique
today said: Our forces are engaged
in clearing enemy troops from the
NEARBY hills"
Capture Of Clark Field, certainly
major prize of the war, consti-
tuted personal satisfaction for
Gen. Macarthur, whose main air
strength in the Philippines was
wiped out in December, 194l, as
japanese dive bombers struck dev-
astating blows to open the japanese
conquest of the islands.
Sixth Army Yanks moved onto
Clark Field SO fast the japanese
failed to put up stiff fight from
defenses carefully dug into ridges
at the northern approaches.
Maj. Gen. Rapp Brush's 40th
Division overran the field and Fort
Stotsenburg, large military install
lations before the war, and then
advanced patrols miles south to
Angeles on a main Manila highway.
Engineers followed to put the field
into shape
Advancing on Parallel Roads.
Meanwhile, the 37th Division of
Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beighter sent
patrol screens across the valley to
the left to protect the flank. This
unit reached the highway town of
Magalang, 10 miles east of Clark.
This meant the two divisions were
On parallel highways which con-
verge IS miles to the south at San
Fernando, capital of Pampanga
Province. From there the highway
threads between two extensive
marshes along the home stretch to
Manila, where Filipinos are reported
starving by the hundreds daily.
At Magalang the Americans
1anked Mount Arayat, where the
Japanese had been expected to put
up a defense against Yank columns
moving down the eastern side of the
Central Luzon plain.
Heaviest fighting of the Luzon
campaign still was north and east
of the Lingayen Gulf beachhead.
Maj. Gen. Innis P. Swift's 1st Corps
had to fight for every inch of
ground.
The 43d Division and the 158th
Combat Team battled into the 14th
day for Rosario, stubbornly defend
ed town on the southwest approach
to the Philippine summer capital at
Baguio. Today's communique said
the Yanks were maintaining heavy
pressure" on the Japanese there.
A few miles northwest japanese
resistance was reported crushed at
Amling, east of Damortis, but to the
southeast at San Manuel the 25th
Division fought one of the toughest
battles of the campaign on Wednes-
day.
After a full day of slugging with
tanks, artillery and infantry, the
Americans still could claim only
partial occupation of the town The