Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-01-21
Yonks' Left Flank
Secure, Drive on
Manila Resumed
BY the , ssociated Press.

GEN. MacARTHUR'S HEAD
QUARTERS, Luzon, Sunday. Jan
21.-Gen. Macarthur today an
nounced the heaviest series OF
staggering blows against the Jap
anese in Central Luzon Island
since the Lingayen Gulf landing
IL days ago.
The Yanks have resumed theil
advance toward Manila and have
overrun two airhelds.
Thirty miles of the prin-
cipal north and south highway have
been secured between Sison, on the
left flank of the campaign down the
Central Luzon plain. and Paniqui
to the south, communique said.
This practically cuts the enemy
in two, severing his forces in North
ern> Luzon from those in Southern
Luzon," the communicate declared
The general overall picture of the
military situation as cleaned from
the official statement and field dis
patches was Cd qualification of the
left flank and CD consequent re-
sumption of the drive south toward
Manila, approximately 70 miles be-
yond columns approaching Tarlac.
No japanese in Evidence.
Fred Hampson, Associated Press
war correspondent, who few as far
as Tarlac in an artillery observa-
ton plane, reported that along
the roads We saw long columns of
American soldiers and equipment
forward"
Although the plane few within
25 feet of the ground. mo japanese
were in evidence" in the plains
area approaching the enemy-held
highway and railway center.
Gen. Macarthur said enemy re-
sistance was crumbling and break
ing into disorganized groups on the
left flank, where the Japanese have
shown their only strong resistance
to date
Enemy resistance in the Cabar-
uan Hills has collapsed" the COM
said. These hills rise from
the center of the Luzon Plain mid
way between two invasion high
ways.
High Ground Captured.
Sixth Army troops also captured
high ground northeast of Rosario
Friday. Rosario, heavily shelled by
both japanese and American artil-
lery to keep ground troops of both
sides out of the town, is in the
north sector of the left
flank.
The japanese launched a series
of counterattacks Thursday and
the following night along the high
way sector between Rosario and
Urdaneta, but were repulsed with
heavy losses. The Americans de-
% enemy tanks and many
field guns.
Driving down the Manila north
the Yanks have seized
Villasis. on the north bank of the
Agno River. and the town of Car
men. with its small emergency air
field across the river. The advance
carried the Americans to San Man
uel, in Tarlac Province.
The Americans, in previous moves
from the east, had taken MOncada
and Paniqui, on the highway be-
low San Manuel.
Well on Way to Tarlac.
C. Yates Mcdaniel, Associated
Press correspondent, in a field dis
patch said American units on the
western flank below Santa Ignacia
were well along the way to Tarlac
rail and highway center IS miles
from Manila. Santa Ignacia is
about IL miles north of Tarlac.
Troops in this sector, meeting
only occasional Japanese patrols,
have been impatient of the restraint
imposed on them while their COM
rades in arms on the left flank
were dealing with stiff enemy OPP
position.
Incessant American air attacks
throughout Luzon have destroyed
nearly calf of the enemy's railroad
rolling stock on the island, Gen
Macarthur said
While these sweeping gains were
being scored on Luzon, other Ameri-
can ground forces occupied two OF
the Camotes Islands between Leyte
Island, now in American hands, and
Cebu. Only minor enemy air action
challenged the landings on Ponsor
Island January Is and Poro Island
January Is.
These islands formerly had played
a role in the japanese barge traffic
to Leyte and were closely watched
by Navy PIT boat patrols.
The communique also reported the
first American air raid on Olongapo
which was attacked Thursday
Olongapo formerly was, a secondary
American naval base on Subic Bay
adjacent to the north end of Bataar
province. The raiders exploded
enemy supply dumps there,