Evening star., 1945-06-17
Two Yank Spearheads
Closing in on $4,000
Japs in North Luzon
BY the Associated Press.

p! VAC ASsOSidted TTesS.
MANILA, Sunday, June 1.-Two
American armored spearheads drove
and 6 miles north today along the
Cagayan valley where more than
10000 japanese troops are being
compressed in their last major
stronghold on Northeastern Luzon,
it was announced today.
One column of the 37th (Ohio)
Division seized the 4,500-foot Ipil
Airfield and pressed on miles
north along Highway No. 5-main
route through the valley--to the
south bank OF the Ganano River
tributary Of the Cagayan River.
A second force to the west struck
along the edge of the valley over a
new highway and ground out g.
mile gain despite tough resistance,
the first reported since Gen. Mac
Arthur announced yesterday that
his forces had burst out % miles into
the valley.
100 Japs Killed.
An Army spokesman said mortar
and automatic weapon fire was
heavy Friday on this sector and 100
japanese were killed.
In the rear of the spearheads. in
the Orioung Pass, miles from the
entrance Of the valley, a japanese
attempt to pinch off the advance
with a road block was bloodily re-
pulsed
The 9Th Division also was tight
ening the moose on the Cagayan
positions with a mile and a half
advance through the mountains
west of the valley, and by the 33d
Division, still farther west. operating
IN the Agno River gorge north of
the summer capital of Baguio.
Still farther north, Filipino guer-
rlllas led by Maj. Gen. Innis p
Swift Of the 1st Corps captured the
road junction of Cervantes. in the
west coast province of Ilocos Sur
and were only 10 airline miles from
the enemy's mountain stronghold of
Bontoc.
While the major drive was under
way TO clear the Cagayan Valley,
more than 500 japanese dead were
counted in Sentral Luzon. TWENTY
tour Japanese and 30l Formosans
We're taken prisoner.
Jap Garrison Eliminated.
Gen. MacArthurs communicate to-
day said that on Mindanao further
progress was made in liouidatinp
the enemy garrison.
The spokesman reported that on
this sector the enemy was ATTEMPT
ing limited withdrawal toward
Mount Apo, southwest of Davao CITY.
and was covering the movement
with stiff rearguard action.
The battle Of Northeastern Luzon
was taking on the nature of a race
against time.
The Americans were racing against
the July tyDhoon season, which
threatens widespread floods along
the Cagayan sRiver.
Medium and attack bombers un-
loaded 252 tons of explosives on
enemy personnel and supply areas
in attacks throughout Cagayan VAL
ley.
Caves and pillboxes were being
mopped up by the oath Infantry
Division in the Davao sector of
Mlndanao. The 3lst Infantry Diyi-
sion clashed with small bands of
retreating Japanese south of the
Talomo trail.
Shanghai Bombed.
>Bombers of the Macarthur COM
mand winged far north to the
Chinese mainland and bombed
Shanghai. where a large fire was
observed burning along the water
front.
In sweeps along the South China
coast, several barges were destroyed
and railroad facilities attacked at.
Canton. and two freighters and two
river steamers were sunk at Saigon.
big port of French Indo-China.
Night patrol planes started fires
in the northern port Of Taihoku on
Formosa.