Evening star., 1945-05-16
laps Fight Savage|y
To Escape From Trap
West Of Davao City
Ey the Associated Presr

Ey the Associated Presr
| MANILA, May 16.-Trapped
japanese troops fought savage
hand-to-hand battle today with
Americans of the oath Infantry
west of Davao City on Mindanao.
Maj Gen. Roscoe B. Woodruff's
battle-seasoned veterans attacked
with knives. bayonets and even
failing fists as the struggle mounted
in savage fury. The battle ragged in
12-foot cogon grass In foothills be-
tween the Talomo and Davao
Rivers.
To the northwest. the 3lst and
10th Infantry Divisions were pin
cering large enemy garrison in
Bukidnon Province, where the bulk
of an estimated $4,000 Mindanao
japanese were believed fortifying
hill positions.
Most of MindanaO Freed.
4 Gen. Macarthur announced in TO-
days communique that 80 per cent
of Mindanao, second largest island
IN. the Philippines, had been lib
Grated. He also said 95 per cent of
the population, probably exceeding
400, 900, was freed from Japanese
domination.
But the japanese salient west of
Davao resisted fiercely. Their re-
treat cut of, the Nipponese resorted
to suicide attacks.
Yanks and Japanese fought with
bayonets and knives, slugged with
helmets and grappled like wrestlers
Some combatants rolled into river,
where at least two Yanks held the
heads of adversaries under water
until they were drowned
Five times in one night a group
of crazed Japanese-75 at the start
rushed vehicle concentra ton.
Capt. Victor Bazzinoti directed the
defense. After the last charge, only
a dazed handful was left TO flee into
the hills.
Arlington Man Explodes Japs.
One japanese ran beneath a Cub
plane in the center of an American
position and blew up himself and
the plane. Another, wearing a
girdle of dynamite, was detonated
by fire from carbine and pistol in
the hands of Corpl. John w. Kelly,
Arlington. Va. Corpl. Kelly won
the nickname 'Two-Gun" by his
feat.
Even land mines. disarmed by
Yanks. were recaptured. reset and
replanted by japanese who stole
through American lines.
To the northwest. 40th Division
Infantry attacked an enemy force
in the Mangima River area east
of captured Del Monte air center.
The division is driving south along
the nine-foot wide graveled Sayre
highway toward the 3lst Division
about so miles away. The 31st won
an airtleld l mile north of Maramag.
Between the two columns, Jap
anese are using 90 nm. dual-purpose
Iantiaircraft guns salvaged from Del
Monte.
On Luzon, the 43d Division
pressed to within 400 yards of Ipo
Dam east of Manila. source of one
third OF the capital city's water
A ring almost is closed around a
strong enemy force in the area.
In North Luzon, the 32d Division
destroyed 20 more enemy cave de-
fenses in its drive toward Imugan.
town beyond newly won Balete
Pass. Four miles beyond Imugan
lies the vital road junction OF
Santa Fe.
The lst Cavalry Division drove
across the South Luzon coast to
Dinangonan on the east shore, a
section previously untouched by
Yank troops. They were advancing
north on Infanta, supported by
light naval units.
Australian and Dutch troops on
Tarakan Island off the Borneo coast
were pushing Japanese into the
hills. Supported by air and naval
units, they successfully attacked an
enemy position overlooking the
Pamoesian oil fields
On Northeast New Guinea, sth
Division Australians cleared the
northern portion of the Sauri vii
lagos.
| Planes harassed transportation
lines, airfields. shipyards and other
war installations from Formosa to
the tip of French Indo-China and
in the Dutch East Indies. They hit
10 bridges. five locomotives, seven