Evening star., 1945-02-16
Philippines
Continued From First Page.)

spearhead which had pushed
through the University of the Phil
ippines campus toward the bay
shore.
The 37th was moving slowly
toward the general hospital, a
highly fortified enemy strong point,
using great care so as not to en-
danger patients who may be inside.
11th Division Slowed.
To the south the 18th Air-borne
Division also was slowed by heavy
opposition in their push from cap
tured Nichols Field northeastward
toward Fort William Mckinley.
Many of the total of 1886 japanese
artillery pieces captured or de-
stroyed in the battle for Manila
have been counted around Nichols
Field. This underscored the Jap
anese idea that the main American
invasion spearhead would be from
the south, rather than the north as
was the case.
These pieces ranged from 37-mm.
infantry cannon to 8-inch naval
guns.
More Japanese guns are probably
buried in the rubble of destroyed
buildings, but the enemy still has
guns east and northeast of the city
and system of tunnel defenses,
which may be difficult to solve,
around Fort William Mckinley and
along the Pasig River about miles
east of the bay.
Japs Fight Fiercely.
''The Jap still is fighting as
though he expected to hold Manila, -
said 1t. Col. Homer Eaton, jr., of
Los Angeles, 14th Corps staff officer.
Undeterred by American control
over three quarters of the city
north of the Pasig River, japanese
attempted early yesterday to put 13
barges ashore 2 miles north of the
river. American guns blew 10 of
them out of the water.
Japanese guns Wednesday night
threw about 100 rounds into the
water flltering plant area northeast
of Manila, with little effect. Ma
rine dive bombers and Army artil-
lery went after the suspected en-
emy batteries yesterday.
While heavy bombers poured an
other destructive bomb load on
Corregidor and attack planes raked
Bataan coastal defenses, troops of
the 11th Corps pushed miles south
of Abucay, along the peninsula's S
Manila Bay coast, to the Balanga-
Pillar area, the eastern end of the
last line held by the American and
Filipino defenders of Bataan three
years ago.
Jap Reports Ignored.
Gen. MacArthur's communique
made no reference to japanese re-
ports that American minesweepers
had forced entry into Manila Bay,
followed by bombarding warships
and troop-laden transports.
Can uncomfirmed Tokyo broad
cast said 20 American mine
sweepers started clearing mines
from the bay entrance early
Tuesday while transports stood
outside for a ''sea-borne thrust
at Manila.')
In widespread air operations
United States bombers raked the
|Kagi airdrome on Formosa, destroy
ing two parked planes and a loco
motive and killing many of the
fields surprised personnel, and un-
loaded lis tons of bombs far to the
south on two airdromes at Rabaul,
New Britain Island.
The plight of civilians within
Japanese lines in South Manila was
told vividly in front line broadcasts.
"The Jap in his dying frenzy
seems determined to take as many
innocent civilians with him as pos
sible," said NBC Correspondent
George Thomas Folster. 'The Japs
are crowding scores of Filipinos into
houses, setting fire to those houses
and machinegunning all who try to
escape"
william Dunn of CHS reported
the Japanese were holding many
Spaniards, Swiss and Filipinos, land
there is little hope for them"