Evening star., 1945-01-14
.Ydnks Advance
8 Miles in Day,
Says
Units Reach Towns
20 Miles InIund
On Aeno River
MAP on Page All
By the Associated Press.


GEN. MacARTHUR'S HEAD
QUARTERS. Luzon, Sunday, Jan.
A.-American motor patrols have
pushed inland 20 miles at two
points on the Luzon invasion
front to the vicinity of the towns
of Urbiztondo and Bayambang.
Gen. MacArthur's communique
covering action to midnight Friday
said the advances were 8 miles
ahead of the previous day positions,
against continuing light resistance
Urbiztondo is about 18 miles from
the Lingayen Gulf coast, where the
Americans made a beachhead last
Tuesday, and Bayambang is about
20 miles inland.
Both towns are on road functions,
and both are on the Agno River
which cuts across the northern
Lubon plain and then swings north.
ward to the Gulf.
Agno Is Barrier.
The Agno River Is the first for
midable natural barrier to be
reached IN the southward drive OF
units of 1t. Gen. Walter Krueger's
9Th Army.
In a field dispatch, Associated
Press Correspondent c. Yates Nc
Daniel said the two towns on the
Agno were n and 26 miles by road
from the beach.
American commanders had ex-
pected the Japanese to defend these
two strategically vital river cross
ings.
The Aperiean troops found the
enemy had abandoned supply trails.
weil-constructed dugouts ana pill.
boxes and an interconnecting trench
system.
Mr.. Mcdaniel reported that on
the east 1enk, where the only stiff
opposition had been encountered.
Gen. Kruger 8 troops had advanced
beyond Pozorrubio, ~ miles by
curving road from Lingayen town.
United States Column Shelled.
This advance would further seal
on any enemy remaining along the
eastern coast Of Lingayen. It also
was aimed at Benguet Mountain
foothill positions from which the
Japanese have intermittently shelled
the American column,
The enemy is as yet either un-
able or unwilling to seriously chal-
ienge our offensive drive into the
tLuzoD central plains," Gen. Mac
Arthur's communique said.
Air and naval blows were de-
livered in support Of the advancing
American ground columns. During
the daytime Wednesday fighter
planes destroyed so small enemy
craft along the west coast of Luzon
near Vigan. The craft were mostly
barges.
Vigan is about 100 miles north
of the Ligayen Gulf beachheads,
and was one of the landing sites of
the Japanese three days ago when
they invaded Luzon.
Japs Bombarded.
Units of the United States 7th
Fleet. covering force for the Amer
lean landing, bombarded Japanese
installation at Rosario, 6 miles in
land from the gulf and 8 miles
north of the extreme left Amer
lean flank
The strength of Yank patrols
which penetrated to the vicinity of
the Agno River towns was not dis
closed.
Bayambang is 61s miles north OF
the border Of Tarlac, where Amer
lean and Filipino soldiers bitterly
resisted the Japanese in Decem-
Der, 1871.
In the western sector, the Yanks
moved rapidly along the North
South highway beyond Aguilar,
which Is II miles from the coast.
The advancing Yanks also OVER
ran the towns Of Santa Barbara
and Mapandan, In the center Of the
invasion path southeast OF the
beachheads.
American air units continued their
bombing and straf1ng Of Japanese
trucks, locomotives and rolling stock.
Heavy bombers hit Japanese sup
ply installations at San Jose, Del
Monte and Grace Park near Manila,
with 70 tons Of explosives. Four
(See PHILIPPINES, Page All