Evening star., 1945-01-08
Philippines
Continued From First Page.)

Oh LlnSayen SIull is now QetOnAtlng
with the fiercest Commandment Of
the beach fortresses and of the
enemy surface units, as well as from
the large carrier-borne bombings."
Another Domei correspondent said
in part:
"The enemy convoy, which ap-
peared In Lingayen Gulf on January
6 at spot where our imperial forces
landed three years ago, continued
on January to bomb our coastal
positions at San Fernando, Bauang
and Damortis from surface craft.
Carrier-based planes also attacked
these areas.
Our land batteries retaliated with
heavy fire and the whole gulf roars
with the blasts of gunfire from both
sides. The enemy task force can be
seen from the top of a hill along
the shores of Lingayen Gulf. Battle
ships or large cruisers head the task
force as it moves farther south. fir
ing at a rate of one shell about
every 2 minutes. More than 10
vessels are in this armada.
Our ground troops can see the
enemy vessels as they pass in single
file over the waters of Lingayen Bay.
Enemy carrier planes also inces-
sanity blast our position.
This is the enemy's usual tactics
preceding landing.
"An ominous silence covered the
gulf in the afternoon. Although
light tracer bullets and signal flares
are seen coming from these war
ships, the enemy, apparently fearing
our iron land defense, dares not
come inland. Instead, the Warships
keep at a respectful distance from
the shore and continue to shell our
positions. The enemy appears re-
luctant to attempt landing.
our men are keeping a strict
vigilance and are straining their
ears from the sound of landing
craft, for the enemy may approach
the shores at any time"
installations Bombed.
Gen. MacArthur's Monday COM
munique said air pounding of enemy
installations on Luzon was con-
tinuing.
Admiral Nimitz's communioue on
the Saturday attack on Luzon by
Navy planes said incomplete reports
showed ~ Japanese planes de-
stroyed. 8 in the air and 10 on the
ground.
Gen. MacArthur's communioue
said heavy bombers of his command
destroyed 18 enemy planes in the
latest raids on Clark, Nichols and
Nelson airdromes on Luzon.
This made total of IS planes de-
stroyed in the attacks. This COM
paratively low figure, with nearly
all destroyed on the ground, seemed
to indicate japanese air power on
Luzon was reaching a low ebb.
Paluan, the new point Of advance
on Mindoro. was taken by a 9Th
Army force which was landed 7
miles down the coast from the town.
It has q harbor. The seizure placed
virtually the entire west coast Of
Mindoro, which was first invaded
December Is, in American hands.
The original invasion on the south-
west coast resulted In the innme-
diate occupation OF San jose town
and airdrome.
Marinduque Island, occupied bv
Gen. MacArthur's forces Wednes-
day. Is only u miles Oh the nearest
Luzon coast, but is slightly farther
from Manila than Paluan.
Gen. Macarthur also reported
bombers and fighters attacked enc
my installations on Negros and
Mindanao Islands In the Philippines
and kept up raids in the Moluccas.
the Netherlands Indies, New Brit
ain. New Ireland and on Bougain-
Vile In the Solomons.
Nearly TOO more Japanese were
killed and II captured Ia further
mopping up On Leyte.