The Wilmington morning star., 1945-05-15
Balete Pass
Is Captured
ByDoughboys
N.nth-Long Mountain Top
Fight Ends In Favor
OF Yanks

n.1ete mass, an important 'o-Aoo'
.e1a between 1,500-foot mountains
oelie ,thern Luzon, fell TO elements
IN IN 4 ape 18th and 37th Infantry Di-
Oh i; ,uv sunday after a month-long
Vls, ,,nts;n top SUGGEST, Gen. Doug
m 1ne Macarthur reported today.
~ M Mindanao island the oath Di-
vision fought an intense battle WIN
v l.'Shorn and well-armed japanese
e ~ showdown fight near captur-
ID III navao City. Six Banzai charges
e ~ company strength were beaten
~ ~ saturday and Sunday.
conquest of Balete pass, gateway
~ the extensive Cagayan valley,
spsnresented a long stride toward
.hs final cleaning out Of the J2pa-
.,,.o m northern Luzon. The pass
a aentrols the only road from the
so,,th into the Cagayan valley
bub Of Japanese strength.
The Doughboys had to comb the
1,nsnese out of formidable net
uark of mountainside caves flank
WV the road. Some of these caves
we're we large enough to accommo-
date an entire company.
Associated Press Correspondent
r,,+cheson reported from
tho No., 18th Division command post
that 1000 japanese dead had been
counted in the bitter fight. Head
quarters said the Japanese Tenth
Division had been very badly
mauled."
The 32pd Division aided the cap
ture by thanking the enemy on the
narallel Villa Verde trail. The two
columns were within two miles OF
iuncture at Santa Fe, where the
trail Joins the main road at the
entrance to the valley.
Stiff fighting still is in prospect,
hut if is downhill from there on.
On Mindanao the oath Division
sained materially in the Cabagulo
area north of Davao but were sub
jected, to japanese Naval gun
Smelling from fhe northern tip OF
nearby Salnal island, which has
been invaded by units Of the Gath.
In central Mindanao the 31s1
Division 1iquidated reinforced
company of bypassed japanese
between Kibawe and Maramag on
the Sayre highway, while to tae
north the 4Gth Division consoli'
dated the captured Del Monte air
drome center.
A headquarters spokesman said
the Australians and Dutch invad-
ers Of Tarakan island, off Borneo,
now control all disable portions OF
the island-roads, the town, the
oilfields and airdromes.
East of Manila the 43rd Infan-
try Division was closing in on the
surrounded Japanese garrison at
the 1po dam, source of more than
one-third Of the capitals water.
Fighters and bombers dropped
$50 tons of explosives in support
Of the Luzon ground actions.
On Mindanao, guerrilla forces
nave seized the port of Cagayan,
capital of Misamis oriental pro-
vince, and the entire north COAT
OF the island now is in American
control, Macarthur announced.
His communique reported the
Japanese Mindanao garrison was
oelng driven steadily into the hill
country in the center of the is
laho' systematic reduction of en-
elny strong points near captured
oavao City was under way.
on Iarakan island, off Borneo,
australian and Dutch Indies troops
scored local gains in desultory
usnlng. Minor Japanese counter
t were repulsed in the cen
" sao eastern sectors.
norneos air bases and supply
l c" were heavily bombed.
. S1as1al patrols sank eight cargo
cups cups nine barges and other small
craft offshore.
.. aeavy bombers sweeping the
.ns 4: coast pounded rail lines
InSo M nlghWays along the French
ls nu1-cnlna coast, wrecking at
ot ' ssu nine bridges and quantities
tiva aOnlns stock, including locomo-
A. i1 nee freighters were set afire
VI A., halnan island.
ed tbS sa troops have penetrat-
cd w NlSee miles inland from captur-
a4ta "eWak on New Guinea and were
h Nv enemy positions ne.r