Evening star., 1945-01-10
Philippines
Continued From First Page.)

evidently did not expect the inva-
sion at the Lingayen sector, and at
tributed the light American losses to
this strategic surprise"
Fully 5000 small amphibious
craft, loaded with troops, nestled
near the transports until the fear
some curtain of naval gunfire and
rockets lifted. Then the landing
waves headed toward beaches we'll
churned up by American metal.
Before the landing, the huge in
vasion armada weathered the most
deadly air attack the Japanese
could mount dating back to Janu-
ary 5. The enemy had the convoy
under observation from the time
it started, but waited until it ap-
preached Luzon past enemy-held is
lands before attacking with the
fury of desperation.
American interceptor pilots and
antiaircraft guns knocked down at
least 70 planes Gen. MacArthur's
communique acknowledged some loss
and damage, but high 7th Fleet
officer said it did not impair the
efficiency of the striking force
A Japanese midget submarine
sent two torpedoes toward group
of cruisers, one carrying Gen. Mac
Arthur. They slithered harmlessly
through the formation. The 60-foot
sub, forced to the surface by depth
charges. was rammed by destroyer
and sent to the bottom.
Sunday night the Japanese tried
to slip destroyer into the convoy,
but it was detected and sunk,
second Japanese destroyer was sunk
elsewhere.
Associated Press Correspondent
Spencer Davis, aboard the 7th Fleet
flagship of Admiral Thomas Kin
kaid, wrote that vast numbers of
troops and enormous quantities of
guns. armor, equipment and supplies
have been placed ashore" He said
the troops we're quickly beyond their
first-day objectives.
A week of warship shellings by
Admiral William F. Halseys Sd
Fleet and air raids on Japan's entire
inner defense perimeter, cutting
deeply into the enemy's air aircraft,
preceded the invasion. These took
in the Kuriles, Japan, the Ryukyu,
Bonin and Volcano Islands, Formosa
and Luzon.
Third Fleet carrier planes inten-
sively pounded Luzon Saturday and
Sunday and Formosa, Japan's big
supply base for the Philippines,
Tuesday, Philippines time. They
also hit Okanawa in the Ryukyu
chain to the north. In all, 262 Japa-
nese planes were destroyed or dam
aged and 73 ships sunk or crippled.
Formosa Bombed BY B-29s.
China-b Super Fortresses
bombed Formosa Tuesday and found
no fighter opposition or antiaircraft,
testifying to the effectiveness of the
carrier plane raids.
Air cover over the beaches was
provided by 1t. Gen. George c. Ken
ney's Far Eastern Air Force.
Gen. Macarthur, wearing his
famed campaign hat and five stars
on his collar, sat atop the motor box
of his invasion craft smoking big
corn cob pipe as he headed toward
shore with his men about two hours
after the initial wave.
The general waded ashore and
took out in jeep for the nearest
command post. When the jeep broke
down, he proceeded by foot Soon
he was talking with privates and
generals alike, highly pleased with
the progress of the operation.
Once Gen. MacArthur's forces
began pouring ashore, the Japanese
were as helpless as were the Ameri-
cans and Filipinos at the same
place on December %, 1941
Another Sea Battle Forecast.
Associated Press Correspondent
Left Erikson at Pearl Harbor specu-
lated that Japan may risk her re-
manning first line warships in
another battle with the United
States fleet In view of Luzon's i'm
portance to the defense of Japan.
"It is not logical to expect he
wrote, that the Japanese Navy
commanders will lie around in en-
pire ports while MacArthur's troops
are taking Luzon from Japan's grip,