Evening star., 1945-02-04
Air Observers See
No Sign of Jap
Defenses in City
By the Associated Press.

<QOAhlEHS,C CenCral LuZOn, SUM-
day, Feb. 4.-American columns
are fast approaching Manila, ia,
outdistancing the official reports
today which put them4ess than
Is miles away on the north at
8 pm. Friday.
American big guns are close
enough this Friday) evening fol
Manila residents to hear them," re-
ported Associated Press Correspond
ent Russell Brines with the 37th Di-
vision which is in a neck-and-neck
drive with the motorized 1st Calvary
Division for the honor of being the
first to enter the city.
broadcast reports from Luzon
referred to patrols reaching the
outskirts of Manila without spec
flying places. The British Broad
casting Corp. said American
patrols had pushed to within 2
miles of the capital. The BIC
said it was quoting an American
radio correspondent on Luzon)
Slight Resistance Met.
Maj. Gen. Robert s. Beightler's
37th was running into just enough
harrassing resistance along High
way skirting Manila Bay to per-
NIT the 1st Cavalry Of Maj. Gen.
Vern Nudge. driving on the east
down Highway 5, to pull abreast.
The first virtually was unopposed
in truck, jeep and tank march.
Air observers reported no sign OF
enemy defenses at Manila itself but
Maj. Gen. Oscar w. Griswold, COM
manding the 18th Army Corps, en-
phasized he would not risk sending
the 37th and lst Cavalary into a
trap but would pace their advance
with that of supporting heavy guns.
Filipinos drifting out of Manila all
told of Japanese-sailors, marines
and soldiers-remaining in the city
Jap Pockets By-passcd.
Dean Schedler, Associated Press
war correspondent with the 1st Cav
airy spearfeads, said ''this flying
squadron llas doks tuaiiy no
lighting, leaving by-passed Japanese
pockets to the main columns fol-
loving"
Gen. Macarthur moved his head
quarters into Central Luzon to be
closer to the climax of the drive for
the city where he had his head
quarters when the war broke De-
cember 8, l941. December 7, United
States date.
Today's communique made no
mention of any enemy resistance
as 1t spotlighted a heavy movement
of the lst Cavalry down to the An
gat River where its patrols were re-
ported yesterday. First Cavalry
elements then crossed the river at
Bustos to make the closer approach
Gen. Beightler's 37th Division
was reported crossing blasted
bridges and fighting pocket-sized
battles against small but bitterly re-
sisting groups of japanese"
(Artfur Feldman, Blue Net
work correspondent in a broad
cast from Luzon said there are
rumors the road approaches to
Manila have been heavily mined.
Gle said it is known the Japa-
nese marine garrison in Manila
is intact and pointed out that
only 5000 japanese could put up
a bitter fight, utilizing sections
of the city suited for last-stand
operations).
Corregidor Bombed.
The 1st Cavalry, in which 1t. Gen.
Jonathan Wainwright, imprisoned
hero of Corregidor once served as a
senior officer, pushed through San
Ildesfonso and San Miguel in Bula-
can province.
Ahead of these advancing Yanks,
measuring their progress to permit
the bringing up Of supporting heavy
artillery. bombers in force attacked
Corregidor and Cavite naval base.
They started numerous fires and
explosions.
On the left flank, 1st Corps troops
pushed on through the Caraballo
mountains and shelled Tumana, 2
miles south of San Jose in Nueva
Ecija province.
The 25th Division captured Umin-
gan after inflicting heavy casualties
on the Japanese in heavy fighting.
Gen. Macarthur announced that
enemy casualties in the Luzon CAM